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REMAINS 


OF  THE 


REV.  RICHARD  CECIL,  M.  A. 

LATE  RECTOR  OP  BISLEV,  AND  VICAR  OF  CHOBHAM,  SCRKEY  ;   AND  MINISTER 

OP  ST.  John's  chapel,  Bedford  how,  London. 
TO  AVHICH  IS  PREFIXED, 

A  VIEW  OF  HIS  CHARACTER. 
BY  JOSIAH  PRATT,  B.D.F.A.S. 

FROM  THE  ELEVENTH  LONDON  EDITION. 

NEW 
ROBERT  CARTER 
AND  PITTSBURG 

1846. 


YORK: 
,  58  CANAL  STREET, 
,  56  MARKET  STREET. 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction,   5 

View  of  the  Character  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Cecil,     ...  7 

REMAINS. 

On  the  Christian  Life  and  Conflict,   55 

On  Subjects  connected  with  the  Christian  Ministry  : — 

On  a  Minister's  qualifying  himself  for  his  OfHce,       -       -  7S 
On  the  Assistance  which  a  Minister  has  reason  to  expect  in 

in  the  Discharge  of  his  Public  Duty,       .      .      .      .  gO 

On  Preaching  Christ,      ...              ...  §3 

On  a  Minister's  Familiar  Intercourse  with  his  Hearers,      .  S3 

On  a  Minister's  encouraging  Animadversion  on  Himself,  92 

On  Limits,  with  regard  to  frequenting  Public  Exhibitions,  97 
On  the  means  of  promoting  a  Spirit  of  Devotion  in  Congre- 

gatioiw,   99 

On  the  MaiTiage  of  Christian  Ministers,          ...  iqi 

On  visiting  Deatii-Beds,  iqq 

Miscellaneous  Remarks,            ......  no 

On  Infidelity  and  Popery,                                                    .  127 

On  a  Christian's  Duty  in  these  Eveatful  Times,       ...  134 

On  Fortifying  Youth  against  Infidel  Principles,        ...  136 

On  the  Management  of  Children,   139 

On  Family  Worship,        -   142 

On  the  Influence  of  the  Parental  Character,       ....  145 

Remarks  on  Authors,   150 

On  the  Scriptures  : — 

Miscellaneous  Remarks  on  the  Scriptures,         ...  157 

On  the  Old  and  New  Dispensations,         ....  164 

On  Typical  and  Allegorical  Explanations  of  Scripture,  -  1C6 
On  the  Diversity  of  Character  in  Christians,  and  ou  correcting 

the  Defects  in  our  Character,         ......  168 


iv  CONTENTS. 

On  the  Fallen  Nature  of  Man,       ------  176 

On  the  Need  of  Grace,   178 

On  the  Occasions  of  Enmity  against  Christianity,        -      -  182 

On  Religious  Retirement,   185- 

On  a  Spiritual  Mind,       ...  ....  18^ 

On  Declension  in  Religion,  192- 
On  a  Christian's  associalir>g  with  Irreligious  Persons  for  their 

good,   196 

On  the  Christian  Sabbath,   197 

On  Judging  justly,  .......  199 

On  the  Character  of  St.  Paul,   202 

Miscellanies,    ..........  205 

APPENDIX. 

Remarks  by  Mr.  Cecil,  communicated  to  the  Editor  bjr  some 

Friends,       -   235 

Some  negative  rules,  given  to  a  Young  Minister,       -      •      -  271 

Fragment— A  Dying  Minister's  Farewell,       ....  275 

Lines  on  the  Death  of  a  Child  at  Day-break,     ....  282 


INTRODUCTION. 


*  He  that  has  the  happy  talent  of  parlor-preaching," 
says  Dr.  Watts/  "  has  sometimes  done  more  for  Christ 
and  souls  in  the  space  of  a  few  minutes,  tlian  by  the  la- 
bor of  many  houis  and  days  in  the  usual  course  of 
preaching  in  the  pulpit." 

On  my  first  intercoui'se  with  Mr.  Cecil,  now  upwards 
of  fifteen  years  since,  when  in  the  full  vigor  of  liis  mind, 
I  was  so  struck  with  the  wisdom  and  originality  of  his 
remarks,  that  I  considered  it  my  duty  to  record  what 
seemed  to  me  most  likely  to  be  useful  to  othei's. 

It  should  be  observed  that  Mr.  Cecil  is  made  to  speak 
often  of  himself:  and,  to  persons  who  do  not  consider 
the  circumstances  of  the  case,  there  may  appear  much 
egotism  in  the  quantity  of  such  remarks  here  put  to- 
gether, and  in  tlie  manner  in  which  his  things  are  said  : 
but  this  will  be  treating  him  with  the  most  flagrant  in- 
justice ;  for  it  must  be  remembered,  that  tiie  remarks  of 
this  nature  were  chiefly  made  by  him,  from  time  to  time, 
in  answer  to  my  particular  inquiries  into  his  judgment 
and  habits  on  certain  points  of  doctrine  or  practice. 

I  have  labored  in  recording  those  sentiments  which  I 
have  gathered  from  him  in  conversation,  to  preserve  as 
much  as  possible  liis  very  expressions  ;  and  they  who 

•An  humble  attempt  towards  the  revival  of  Religion. — Part  I.  Sec.4. 
A  2 


vi 


INTRODUCTION. 


were  familiar  with  his  manner  will  be  able  to  judge,  in 
general,  how  far  I  have  succeeded  :  but  I  would  expli- 
citly disavow  an  exact  verbal  responsibility.  For  the 
sentiments  I  make  myself  answerable. 

In  some  instances,  I  have  brought  together  observa- 
tions made  at  different  times  ;  the  reader  is  not,  there- 
fore, to  understand  that  the  thoughts  here  collected  on 
any  subject  always  followed  in  immediate  connexion. 


A  VIEW 

OF 

THE  CHARACTER 

OF  THE 

REV.  RICHARD  CECIL. 


In  depicting  the  personal  and  MiNisTERfAi,  character 
of  my  departed  friend,  while  I  shall  communicate  occa- 
sionally the  impressions  made  by  him  on  my  own  mind, 
most  of  wiiich  were  recorded  at  the  time  they  were 
made,  I  shall  endeavour  to  render  him,  as  much  as  pos- 
sible, the  portrayer  of  his  own  character,  by  detailing 
those  descriptions  of  his  views  and  feelings  which  I  ga- 
thered from  him. 

Naturk,  EDUcATiov  and  grace  combine  to  form  and 
model  PERSONAL  CHARACTER,  of  every  Chris- 
tian. God  gives  to  his  reasonable  creatures  such  physi- 
cal and  intellectual  constitution  as  he  pleases  ;  education 
and  circumstances  hide  or  unfold,  restrain  or  mature  this 
constitution;  and  grace,  while  it  regulates  and  sanctifies 
the  powers  of  the  man,  varies  its  own  appearances  ac- 
cording to  the  varieties  of  those  powers.  Audit  is  by  the 
endless  modifications  and  counteractions  of  these  prin- 
ciples, that  the  Personal  Character  of  a  Christian  is 
formed. 

It  might  have  been  expected  from  Mr.  Cecil's  earliest 
displays  of  character,  that  he  was  formed  to  be  an  in- 
strument of  extensive  evil  or  of  eminent  good.  There 
was  a  DECISION — a  darinq — =an  untameableness  in  the 


8 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


structure  of  his  mind  even  when  a  boy,  combined  witli 
a  tone  of  authority  and  command,  and  a  talent  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  these  qualities,  to  which  the  minds  of  his  asso- 
ciates yielded  an  implicit  subjection.  Fear  of  conse- 
quences never  entered  into  his  view.  Opposition  espe- 
cially if  accompanied  by  any  thing  like  severity  or  op- 
pression, awakened  unrelenting  resistance. 

Yet  this  bold  and  untameable  spirit  was  allied  to  a  no- 
ble and  GENEROUS  disposition.  There  was  a  magnifi- 
cence in  his  mind.  While  he  was  scrupulously  delicate, 
perhaps  even  to  some  excess,  on  subjects  entrusted  to 
his  secrecy,  and  on  affairs  in  progress;  yet  he  would  ne- 
ver lend  himself  in  his  own  concerns,  or  in  those  of 
others,  to  any  thing  that  bordered  on  artifice  and  ma- 
noeuvre :  for  he  had  a  native  and  thorough  contempt  of 
whatever  was  mean,  little,  and  equivocating.  That 
"  honesty  is  the  best  policy"  may  be  a  strong,  or  the  pre- 
vailing motive  for  uprightness  with  men  of  a  lower  tone 
of  character  ;  but  I  question  if  it  at  all  entered  into  the 
calculation  with  my  great  friend.  His  mind  was  too  no- 
ble, to  have  recourse  to  other  means,  or  to  aim  at  other 
ends,  than  those  which  he  avowed  ;  and  too  intrepid  not 
to  avow  those  which  he  did  entertain,  so  far  as  might  be 
required  or  expedient. 

His  temptations  were  to  the  sins  of  the  spirit,  rather 
than  to  those  of  the  flesh;  and  he  possessed,  all  his  life 
long,  a  superiority  to  the  pleasures  of  mere  sense  not 
often  seen.  He  was,  indeed,  temperate  in  all  things — 
holding  his  bodily  appetites  in  entire  subjection. 

Sy.MPATHY  wtTH  SUFFERING  was  an  eminent  charac- 
teristic of  Mr.  Cecil's  mind — a  sympathy  which  sprung 
less  from  that  softness  and  sensibility  which  are  the  or- 
nament of  the  female,  than  from  the  generosity  of  his 
disposition.  He  would  have  had  all  men  happy.  It 
gratified  his  generous  nature  to  ease  the  burdens  of  suf- 
fering man.  If  any  were  afflicted  by  the  visitations  of 
God,  he  taught  them  to  bow  with  submission,  while  he 
pitied  and  relieved:  if  the  affliction  were  the  natural 
and  evident  fruit  of  crimes,  he  admonished  while  he 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


9 


sympathised;  if  the  sufferings  of  man  or  brute  arose 
t'rom  the  voluntary  inflictions  of  others,  lie  was  indig- 
nant against  the  oppressor. 

Such  was  the  intrepid  and  noble,  yet  humane  mind, 
which  was  trained  by  Divine  Grace,  under  a  long  course 
of  moral  discipline,  for  eminent  usefulness  in  the  Church 
of  God.  Mr.  Cecil's  intellectual  endowments  will  bo 
spoken  of  hereafter.  At  pi'csent,  I  shall  trace  the  rise 
and  the  advances  of  his  Christian  character. 

He  had  early  religious  impressions.  These  were  first 
received  from  Janevvay's  "Token  for  Children,"  which 
his  mother  gave  him  when  was  about  six  years  of  age. 
"I  was  much  affected  by  this  book,"  said  he,  "and  recol- 
lect that  I  wept,  and  got  into  a  corner,  where  I  prayed 
that  I  also  might  have  an  '  interest  in  Christ,'  like  one  of 
the  children  there  mentioned,  though  I  did  not  know 
what  the  expression  meant." 

Those  impressions  of  childhood  wore  away.  He  fell 
into  the  follies  and  vices  of  youth  ;  and  by  degrees  be- 
gan to  listen  to  infidel  principles,  till  he  avowed  himself 
openly  an  unbeliever.  He  has  alluded  frequently  in  his 
writings  to  this  criminal  part  of  his  history ;  but  I  shall 
add  some  paragraphs  on  this  point  partly  in  his  own 
words. 

He  was  suffered  to  proceed  to  awful  lengths  in  infide- 
lity. The  natural  daring  of  his  inind  allowed  him  to  do 
nothing  by  halves.  Into  whatever  society  he  enlisted 
himself,  he  was  its  leader.  He  became  even  an  apostle 
of  infidelity — anxious  to  banish  the  scruples  of  more 
cautious  minds,  and  to  carry  them  all  lengths  with  his 
own.  And  he  was  too  successful.  In  after  life  he  has 
met  more  than  one  of  these  converts,  who  have  laughed 
at  all  his  affectionate  and  earnest  attcinpts  to  pull  down 
the  fabric  erected  too  much  by  his  own  hands.  Yet  he 
was  never  wholly  sincere  in  his  infidelity. — He  has  left 
a  most  impressive  and  encouraging  testimony  to  the 
power  of  Parental  Influence  in  preserving  his  mind,  under 
the  grace  of  God,  from  entirely  believing  his  own  lie.* 


♦  See  Remains:  on  the  Influence  of  the  Parental  Character. 


10 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


He  gave  mo  a  farther  instance  of  the  power  of  con- 
science in  this  respect: — 

"  When  I  was  sunk  in  the  depths  of  infidelity,  I  was 
afraid  to  read  any  author  who  treated  Christianity  in  a 
dispassionate,  wise  and  searching  manner.  He  made 
me  uneasy.  Conscience  would  gather  strength.  1  found 
it  more  difficult  to  stifle  her  remonstrances.  He  would 
reca!  early  instructions  and  impressions,  while  my  happi- 
ness could  only  consist  with  their  obliteration." 

Yet  he  appears  to  have  taken  no  small  pains  to  rid 
himself  of  his  scruples; — •'!  have  read,"  said  he,  "all  the 
most  acute  and  learned  and  serious  infidel  writers,  and 
have  been  really  surprised  at  their  poverty.  The  pro- 
cess of  my  mind  has  been  such  on  the  subject  of  revela- 
tion, that  I  have  often  thought  Satan  has  done  more  for 
me  than  for  the  best  of  thein;  for  I  have  had,  and  couhl 
have  produced,  arguments,  that  appeared  to  me  far 
mf)re  weighty  than  any  I  ever  found  in  them  against 
Revelation." 

He  did  not  proceed  in  this  career  of  sin  without  occa- 
sional checks  of  conscience.  Take  the  following  in- 
stance ; — 

"  My  father  had  a  relin;ious  servant.  1  frequently 
cursed*  and  reviled  him.  H^  would  only  smile  on  me. 
That  went  to  my  heart.  I  felt  t  lat  he  looked  on  me  as 
a  deluded  creature.  I  felt  that  he  thought  he  had  some- 
thing which  1  knew  not  how  to  value,  and  thnt  he  was 
therefore  greatly  my  superior.  I  felt  there  was  a  real 
dignity  in  his  conduct.  It  made  me  appear  little  even  in 
my  own  eyes.  If  he  had  condescended  to  argue  with 
me,  I  could  have  cat  some  figure;  at  least  by  compar- 
ison, wretched  as  it  would  have  been.  He  drew  me 
once  to  hear  Mr.  Whitefield.  I  was  17  or  18  years  old. 
It  had  no  sort  of  religious  effect  on  me,  nor  had  th« 

[)reachiug  of  any  man  in  my  unconverted  state.  My  re- 
igion  began  in  contemplation.  Yet  I  conceived  a  high 
reverence  for  Mr.  Whitefield.  I  no  longer  thouglU  of 
him  as  the  "Dr.  Squintum"  we  were  accustom-d  to 
buffoon  at  school.  I  saw  a  commanding  and  irresistable. 
effect,  and  he  made  me  feel  my  own  insignificance." 


CHaUACTEU  of  MR.  CECIL. 


II 


Por  ihis  daring  offender,  however,  God  had  mercy  in 
rt'servc  !  lie  was  the  child  of  many  tears,  instructions, 
admonitions,  and  prayers  ;  and,  though  now  a  prodigal, 
he  was  to  be  recovered  from  his  wickedness  ! 

While  under  the  control  of  bad  principles,  he  gave  in- 
to every  species  of  licentiousness — saving  that,  even 
then,  the  native  nobleness  of  his  mind  made  him  despise 
whatever  he  ihouglit  mean  and  dishonorable.  Into  this 
state  of  slavery  he  was  brought  by  his  sin ;  but  here  the 
mercy  of  God  taught  him  some  most  important  lessons, 
which  influenced  his  views  and  governed  his  ministry- 
through  after  life,  and  the  same  mercy  then  rescued  him 
from  tlie  slavery  to  which  he  had  submitted.  The  pene- 
tration and  grandeur  of  his  mind,  which  his  natural  su- 
periority to  sensual  pleasures,  made  him  feel  the  little- 
ness of  every  object  which  engages  the  ambition  and  the 
desires  of  the  carnal  man  :  insomuch  that  God  had  given 
him,  in  this  unusual  way  of  bringing  him  to  himself,  a 
tliorough  disgust  of  the  world  before  he  had  gained  any 
hold  ofhigher  objects  and  better  pleasures. 

It  was  thus  that  God  prepared  him  for  further  com- 
munications of  mercy.  And  here  he  felt  the  advantage 
of  having  been  connected  with  sincere  Christians.  He 
knew  them  to  be  holy,  and  he  felt  that  they  were 
happy.  "  It  was  one  of  the  first  things,"  said  he,  "which 
struck  my  mind  in  a  profligate  stale,  that,  in  spite  of  all 
the  folly  and  hypocrisy  and  fanaticism  which  may  be 
seen  among  religious  professors,  there  was  a  mind  after 
Christ,  a  holiness,  a  heavenliness,  among  real  Chris- 
tians." He  added  on  another  occasion,  "  My  first  con- 
victions on  the  subject  of  religion  were  confirmed  from 
observing  that  really  religious  persons  had  some  solid 
happiness  among  them,  which  I  had  felt  that  the  vanities 
of  the  world  could  not  give.  I  shall  never  forget  stand- 
ing by  the  bed  of  my  sick  mother.  'Are  not  you  afraid 
to  die  V  I  asked  her ;  'No.'  'No !'  'Why  does  the  un- 
certainty of  another  state  give  you  no  concern?'  'Be- 
cause God  has  said  to  me.  Fear  not :  when  thou  passest 
through  the  waters  I  will  he  with  thee;  and  through  tha 


12 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIt. 


rivers  they  shall  not  ooerjlow  thee.'  The  remembrance 
of  this  scene  has  oftentimes  since  drawn  an  ardent 
prayer  from  me,  that  I  might  die  the  death  of  the  righ- 
teous." 

His  mind  opened  very  gi-adually  to  the  truths  of  the 
Gospel:  and  the  process  through  which  he  was  led  is  a 
striking  evidence  of  the  imminence  of  his  past  danger, 
"  My  leelings,"  he  said,  "when  i  was  first  beginning  to 
recover  from  my  infidelity,  prove  that  I  had  been  suffer- 
ed to  go  great  lengths  ;  and,  to  a  very  awful  degree  to 
believe  my  own  lie.  My  mind  revolted  from  Christi- 
anity. God  did  not  bring  me  to  himself,  by  any  of  the 
peculiar  motives  of  the  Gospel.  When  I  was  about 
twenty  years  old,  I  became  utterly  sick  of  the  vanity, 
and  disgusted  with  the  folly,  of  the  world.  I  had  no 
thought  of  Jesus  Christ,  or  of  Redemption.  The  very 
notion  of  Jesus  Christ  or  of  Redemption  repelled  me.  I 
could  not  endure  a  system  so  degrading.  I  thought 
there  might  possibly  be  a  Supreme  Being  ;  and  if  there 
■were  such  a  being,  he  might  hear  me  when  I  prayed. 
To  worship  the  Supreme  Being  seemed  somewhat  digni- 
fied. There  was  something  grand  and  elevating  in  the 
idea.  But  the  whole  scheme  and  plan  of  redemption  ap- 
peared mean,  and  degrading,  and  dishonorable  to  man. 
The  New  Testament,  in  its  sentiments  and  institutions, 
repelled  me;  and  seemed  impossible  to  be  believed, 
as  a  religion  suitable  to  man. 

The  grace  of  God  triumphed,  however  over  all  oppo- 
sition. The  religion  which  began  in  this  disgust  with 
the  world  and  disaffection  to  the  peculiar  doctrines  of 
the  Gospel,  made  rapid  advances  in  his  mind.  The  seed 
sown  in  tears  by  his  inestimable  mother,  though  long  bu- 
ried, now  burst  into  life,  and  shot  forth  with  vigor:  and 
he  became  a  preacher  of  that  truth,  which  once  he  la- 
boured to  destroy.  Yet  grace  did  not  anihilate  the  na- 
tural character  and  qualities  of  the  mind:  though  it 
regulated  and  directed  them.  The  Christian's  feelings 
and  experience  wei'e  modified  by  the  constitution  of  the 
man.  After  a  long  course  of  spiritual  watchfulness  and 
warfare,  he  spoke  thus  of  himself; 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIt. 


13 


"There  is  what  Bacon  calls  a  duy  light,  in  which 
subjects  are  viewed,  without  any  predilection,  or  pas- 
sion, or  emotion,  but  simply  as  they  exist.  This  is 
very  much  my  character  as  a  Christian.  I  have  great 
constitutional  resistance.  Tell  me  such  a  thing  is  my 
DUTY — I  know  it  is,  but  there  I  stop.  Talk  to  me  of 
HEi,i, — my  heart  would  rise  with  a  sort  of  daring  stub- 
bornness. There  is  a  constitutional  desperation  about 
me,  which  was  the  most  conspicuous  feature  in  my  cha- 
racter when  young,  and  which  has  risen  up  against  the 
gracious  measures  which  God  has  all  my  life  taken  to 
subdue  and  break  it.  I  feel  I  can  do  little  in  religion 
without  ENCOURAGEMENT.  I  am  persuadcd  and  sati;f- 
fied,  tied  and  bound,  by  its  truth  and  importance  and 
value  ;  but  I  view  the  subject  in  a  dry  mgiit.  A  strong 
sense  of  divine  friendship  goes  a  vast  way  with  me. 
When  I  fall,  God  will  raise  me.  When  I  want,  God 
will  provide.  When  I  am  in  perplexity,  God  will  deli- 
ver. He  cares  for  me — pities  me — bears  with  me — 
guides  me — loves  me  !" 

But  the  energy  of  Divine  Grace  was  most  conspicu- 
ous, in  the  control  and  mastery  of  this  resisting  and  high 
spirit  of  which  our  friend  complained.  Nay,  if  there 
were  any  one  Christian  virtue  in  which  he  was  more 
advanced  than  any  other,  it  appears  to  me  to  have 
been  humility — not  that  humility  which  debases  itself 
that  it  may  be  exalted,  and  which  is  offended  if  its  pro- 
fessions be  believed  :  but  the  humility  which  arose  from 
an  abiding  and  growing  conviction  of  his  infinite  dis- 
tance from  the  standard  of  perfection,  and  the  little 
comparative  use  which  he  had  made  of  his  many  means 
and  helps  in  approaching  that  standard  — a  humility 
that  expressed  itself,  therefore,  in  a  teachableness  of 
mind,*  a  ready  acknowledgment  of  excellence  in  others, 

*  "  A  friend,  who  knew  him  for  thirty  or  forty  years,  has  informed 
me,"  says  Mr.  Wilson,  in  the  sermons  preached  on  occasion  of  Mr. 
Cecil's  death,  "  that  he  was  more  ready  to  hear  of  his  faults  from  per- 
ions  whom  he  esteemed,  than  most  men.  When  any  failings  were 
pointed  out  to  him,  he  usually  thanked  the  reprover,  and  anxiously  in- 
B 


14 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


and  a  candor  in  judging  of  other  persons  which  arc  sel 
dom  equalled ;  and  which  were  rare  endowments  in  &. 
mind  that  could  not  but  feel  its  own  powers,  and  its  su- 
periority to  that  of  most  other  men.  But  God  has  a 
thousand  unseen  methods  of  forming  and  cherishing 
those  graces  in  his  servants,  which  seems  most  opposed 
to  their  constitution,  and  least  to  be  expected  in  their 
circumstances. 

Mr.  Cecil  gave  me  one  day  the  following  remarkable 
illustration  of  this  subject  in  his  own  case: — It  is  a  nice 
question  in  casuistry: — How  far  a  man  may  feel  compla- 
cency in  the  exercise  of  talent.  A  hawk  exults  on  his 
wing;  he  skims  and  sails,  delighting  in  the  conscious- 
ness of  his  powers.  I  know  nothing  of  this  feeling.  Dis- 
satisfaction accompanies  me,  in  the  study  and  in  the 
pulpit.  I  never  made  a  sermon  with  which  I  felt  sa- 
tisfied. I  never  preached  a  sermon,  with  which  I  felt 
satisfied.  1  have  always  present  to  my  mind  such  a  con- 
ception of  what  MIGHT  be  done,  and  I  sometimes  hear 
the  thing  so  done,  that  what  I  do  falls  very  far  beneath 
what  it  seems  to  me  it  should  be.  Some  sermons 
which  I  have  heard  have  made  me  sick  of  my  own  for  a 
month  afterwards.  Many  ministers  have  no  concep- 
tion of  any  thing  beyond  their  own  world:  they  com- 
pare themselves  only  with  themselves ;  and  perhaps 
they  must  do  so;  if  I  could  give  them  my  views  of  their 
ministry,  without  changing  the  men,  they  would  be  ruin- 
ed ;  while  now  they  are  eminent  instruments  in  God's 
hands.  But  some  men  see  too  much  beyond  themselves 
for  their  own  comfort.  Perhaps  complacency  in  the 
exercise  of  talent,  be  it  what  it  may,  is  hardly  to  be  se- 
parated, in  such  a  wretched  heart  as  man's,  from  pride. 
It  seems  to  me  that  this  dissatisfaction  with  myself,  is 
the  messenger  sent  to  buffet  me  and  keep  me  down.  In 
other  men,  the  separation  between  complacency  and 

quired  for  further  admoniticns.  I  have  observed  myself,  that,  when  he 
gave  advice,  which  he  did  with  acuteness  and  decision,  he  was  quite  su  - 
perior tothat  little  vanity  wliich  is  offended  if  the  counsel  be  not  followed." 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


15 


pride  may  be  possible ;  but  I  scarcely  think  it  is  so 
in  me.* 

I  have  alluded  to  Mr.  Cecil's  ready  acknowledg- 
ment OF  THE  WORTH  of  OTHERS  ;  and  I  must  add,  that 
he  cultivated  that  discrimination  of  excellence,  whicli 
leads  a  man  to  discover  and  esteem  it  in  the  midst  of 
imperfections.  He  had  an  unfeigned  regard  to  real 
worth,  wherever  it  was  found.  The  powers  of  the  un- 
derstanding have  often  fascinated  men  of  inferior  wis- 
dom, and  lessened  the  odiousness  of  an  immoral  state 
of  heart  too  plainly  seen  in  others;  but  if  the  excellencies 
of  the  head  and  the  heart  must  be  disjoined,  he  never 
failed  to  value  that  which  is  most  truly  valuable.  He 
would  say — "  Such  a  friend  of  ours  is  what  many  men 
look  down  on,  as  a  weak  man  ;  but  I  honor  his  wisdom 
and  his  devoledness.  He  throws  himself  out,  and  all 
the  powers  which  God  has  given  him,  into  the  service 
of  his  Master,  in  all  those  ways  which  seem  to  him  best  ; 
and,  though  perhaps  he  and  1  should  forever  differ  on 
the  best  way,  and  though  I  see  in  him  many  peculiari- 
ties and  weaknesses,  yet  I  honor  and  love  the  man ;  1 
revere  his  simplicity  and  his  piety.  He  is  what  God 
has  made  him  ;  and  all  that  he  is  he  puts  into  action  fur 
God."  If  Mr.  Cecil  was  at  any  time  severe  in  his  re- 
marks on  others,  his  severity  was  chiefly  directed 
against  that  ignorant  vanity  and  affectation,  which  push 
a  man  forward  where  great  men  would  retire,  and  which 
make  him  dogmatical  where  wise  men  would  speak 
with  humility  and  candor. 

Closely  allied  with  his  humility,  was  that  openness  to 
coNvici'ioN,  which  Mr  Cecil  possessed  in  an  unusual  de- 
gree. He  had  dived  so  deeply  into  his  own  heart,  and 
had  read  man  so  accurately — his  short-sightedness,  his 

*  Mr.  Churton  has  a  remark  on  Dr.  Johnson,  somewhat  of  a  similar 
nature  to  this  of  IVlr.  C.  on  himself  lie  thinks  tliat  "  Johnson's  morbid 
rnelanclioly  and  constitutional  infirmities  were  intended  by  Providenee, 
like  St.  Paul's  thorn  in  the  flesli,  to  check  iiuelleclual  cum-eit  and  ano- 
gance ;  which  the  consciousness  of  his  extraordinary  talents,  awake  as  he 
was  to  the  voice  of  praise,  might  otherwise  have  f^eiierated  in  a  very  cul- 
pable degree."— Bo5i/)C«'s  Ltje  of  Johnson,  2d  Ed .  8vo.  vol.  iii.  p.  064. 


16 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


scanty  span,  his  pride,  and  iiis  passions — that  he  was, 
more  than  most  men,  superior  to  that  little  feeling  which 
makes  us  quit  the  scholar's  form.  Many  men  speak  of 
themselves  and  of  all  around  them  as  in  a  state  of  pu- 
pilage and  childhood,  but  I  never  approached  a  man,  on 
whose  mind  this  conviction  had  a  more  real  and  prac- 
tical influence. 

DrsiNTERESTEDNF.ss  was  a  pre-eminent  characteristic 
of  Mr.  Cecil  as  a  Christian.  His  whole  spirit  and  con- 
duct spoke  one  language  ; — "  Let  me  and  mine  be  noth- 
ing, so  that  thy  kingdom  may  come  !"  His  disinterest- 
edness was  grounded  on  his  conviction  of  the  absolute 
nothingness  of  all  earthly  good,  compared  with  the 
glory  of  Christ  and  the  interests  of  his  kingdom.  In  all 
pecuniary  transactions  of  a  private  or  public  nature,  he 
was  governed  by  this  principle ;  and  made  a  free  and 
cheerful  sacrifice  of  what  he  might  have  lawfully  ob- 
tained, if  he  thought  his  receiving  it  would  impede  his 
usefulness. 

On  one  occassion  of  this  nature,  he  explained  the  no- 
ble principle  on  which  he  acted  : — "  A  Christian  is  called 
to  refrain  from  some  things,  which,  though  actually 
right,  yet  will  not  bear  a  good  appearance  to  ail  men. 
1  once  judged  it  my  duty  to  refuse  a  considerable  sum 
of  money,  which  I  might  lawfully  and  fairly  have  re- 
ceived, because  I  considered  that  my  account  of  the 
matter  could  not  be  stated  to  some,  to  whom  a  difTcrent 
representation  would  be  made.  A  man  who  intends  to 
stand  immaculate,  and,  like  Samuel,  to  come  forward  and 
say — Whose  ox  or  whose  ass  have  I  taken?  must  count 
the  cost.  I  knew  that  my  character  was  worth  more 
to  me  than  this  sum  of  money.  By  probity,  a  man 
honors  himself.  It  is  the  part  of  a  wise  man,  to  wave 
the  present  good  for  the  future  increase.  A  Merchant 
suffers  a  large  quantity  of  goods  to  go  out  of  the  king- 
dom to  a  foreign  land,  but  he  has  his  object  in  doing  so  ; 
he  knows  by  calculation,  that  he  shall  make  so  much 
more  advantage  by  them.  A  Christian  is  made  a  wise 
man  by  counting  the  cost.    The  best  picture  I  know 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


17 


of  the  exercise  of  this  virtue,  drawn  by  the  hand  of 
man,  is  that  by  JohnBunyaninthe  characters  of  Passion 
and  Patience. 

Associated  with  this  disinterestedness  of  spirit,  was  a 
singular  practical  reliance  on  providrnce,  in  all  the 
most  minute  and  seemingly  indifferent  affairs  of  liis 
life.  lie  was  emphatically,  to  use  his  own  expression, 
"a  pupil  of  signs" — waiting  for  and  following  the  lead- 
ings and  openings  of  divine  providence  in  his  affairs.  1 
once  consulted  him  throughout  a  very  delicate,  and  per- 
plexing affair.  In  one  stage  of  it,  he  said  to  me.  "  you 
have  not  done  this  thing  exactly  as  I  should  have  felt 
my  m.ind  led  to  do  it.  I  feel  myself  in  such  cases  like 
a  child  in  the  middle  of  an  intricate  and  perplexed 
wood.  Two  considerations  weigh  with  tne  :  first — If 
I  could  see  all  the  involutions,  and  relations,  and  bear- 
ings, and  consequences  of  the  affair,  then  I  might  feel 
myself  able  to  move  forward:  but  secondly — I  know 
not  one  of  them,  not  even  the  shadow  of  one,  nay, 
hardly  the  probability  of  such  and  such  issues.  Then 
I  am  driven  to  simple  reliance.  I  have  never  found 
God  fail  me  in  such  cases.  When  I  am  utterly  lost 
and  confounded,  I  look  for  openings,  clear  and  evident  to 
my  own  conviction.  I  have  a  warrant  for  all  this. 
Our  grand  danger  with  reference  to  Providence,  is,  that 
we  should  walk  as  men: — Are  ye  not  carnal  and  walk 
as  men  ?.' 

On  another  occasion  he  said, — we  make  too  little  of 
the  subject  of  Providence.  My  mind  is  by  nature  so 
intrepid  and  sanguine,  and  it  has  so  oi'ten  led  me  to  anti- 
cipate God  in  his  guidings,  to  my  severe  loss,  that  per- 
haps I  am  now  too  suspicious  and  dilatory  in  following 
him.  However,  this  is  a  maxim  with  me — that,  when 
I  am  waiting  with  a  simple,  childlike  spirit  for  openings 
and  guidings,  and  imagine  I  perceive  them,  God  would 
either  prevent  the  semblance  of  them  from  rising  up 
before  me,  if  these  were  not  his  leadings  in  reality, 
or  he  would  preserve  me  from  deeming  them  such ;  and 


18 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


therefore  I  always  follow  what  appears  to  be  my  duly 
without  hesitation." 

But  the  spring  of  all  these  Christian  virtues,  and  the 
master-grace  of  his  mind,  was  faith.  His  whole  spi- 
rit and  character  were  a  living  illustration  of  that  defi- 
nition of  the  aposlle  —  Faith  is  the  substance  of  things 
hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things  unseen!  He  appeared 
to  me  never  to  be  exercised  with  doubts  and  fears. 
His  magnanimity  entered  most  strikingly  into  his  reli- 
gious character.  He  was  convinced  and  satisfied  by  all 
the  divine  declarations  and  promises — and  he  left  him- 
self, with  unsuspecting  confidence,  in  God's  hands.* 

I  quote  Mr.  Wilson's  testimony  to  the  patience  of 
our  friend  under  afflictions.  "  He  was  not  only,  in 
opposition  to  all  the  tendencies  of  his  natural  dispositions, 
resigned,  but  cheerful  under  his  trials.  I  have  seen  him 
repeatedly  at  his  living  in  the  country,  return  from  his 
ride  racked  with  pain  :  pale,  emaciated,  speechless.  I 
have  seen  him  throw  himself  all  along  upon  his  sofa,  on 
his  face,  and  cover  his  forehead  with  his  hands ;  and 
there,  without  an  expression  of  complaint,  endure  the  pa- 
roxysm of  his  disorder :  and  I  have  been  astonished  lo 
observe  him  rise  up  in  an  instant,  with  his  wonted  dignity, 
and  enter  upon  conversation  with  cheerfulness  and  vigor. 
He  has  often  acknowledged  to  me,  that  the  anguish 
he  felt  was  like  a  a  dagger  plunged  into  his  side,  and 
that  through  a  whole  summer  he  has  not  had  two  nights 
free  from  tormenting  pain.  Such  were  his  suflcrings 
for  ten  or  twelve  years  previous  to  his  last  illness.  And 
yet  this  was  the  man,  or  rather  this  was  the  Christian, 
from  whose  lips  I  never  heard  a  murmuring  word. 

•Mr.  Wilson  justly  remarks  of  our  fiiend,  that  "  the  tletermination 
and  grandeur  of  his  mind  displayed  his  faith  to  peculiar  advantage. 
This  divine  principle  quite  realized  and  substantiated  to  him  the  things 
which  are  not  seen  and  eternal.  It  was  absolutely  like  another  sense. 
The  things  of  time  were  as  nothing.  Eveiy  thing  that  came  before  him 
was  referred  to  a  spiritual  standard.  His  one  great  object  was  fixed, 
and  this  object  engrossed  his  wliole  soul.  Here  his  fool  stood  immove- 
able, as  on  a  rock.  His  hold  on  the  truths  of  ihe  Scriptures  was  so  firm, 
that  he  acted  on  them  boldly  and  unreservedly.  He  went  all  lengths, 
and  risked  all  consequences,  on  the  word  and  promise  of  God." 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


19 


I        It  is  almost  needless  to  add  that  Mr.  Cecil  possessed 

I        REMARKABLE  DECISION  OF  CHARACTER.      When    he  WCnt 

to  Oxford  he  had  made  a  resolution  of  restricting  him-- 
self  to  a  quarter  of  an  hour  daily,  in  playing  on  tlie 
violin  ;  on  which  instrument  he  greatly  excelled,  and  of 
which  he  was  extravagantly  fond  :  but  he  found  it  imprac- 
ticable to  adhere  to  his  determination;  and  had  so  fre- 
quently to  lament  the  loss  of  time  in  this  fascinating 
amusement, that  with  the  noble  spirit  which  characterized 
him  through  life,  he  cut  his  strings,  and  never  afterward 
replaced  them.  He  studied  for  a  painter ;  and,  after  he 
had  changed  his  object,  retained  a  fondness  and  a  taste: 
for  the  art :  he  was  once  called  to  visit  a  sick  lady,  in 
whose  room  there  was  a  painting  which  so  strongly 
attracted  his  notice,  that  he  found  his  attention  diverted 
from  the  sick  person,  and  absorbed  by  the  painting : 
from  that  moment  he  formed  the  resolution  of  mortify- 
ing a  taste,  which  he  found  so  intrusive,  and  so  obstruc- 
tive to  him  in  his  nobler  puisuhs;  and  determined  never 
afterwards  to  frequent  the  exhibition. 

Nor  was  his  intrepid  and  inflexible  firmness  less 
conspicuous,  whenever  the  interests  of  truth  and  the 
honor  of  Christ  were  concerned.  The  world  in  arms 
would  not  have  appalled  him,  while  the  glory  of  Christ 
was  in  his  view.  Nor  do  I  believe  that  he  would  have 
hesitated  for  a  moment,  after  he  had  given  to  nature  her 
just  tribute  of  feeling  and  of  tears,  to  go  forth  from  his 
t'amily  and  "join  the  noble  army  of  martyrs"  who  ex- 
pired in  the  flames  in  Smilhfield,  had  the  honor  of  his 
Master  called  him  to  this  sacrifice;  nor  would  his  knees 
have  trembled,  nor  his  look  changed. 

Yet  I  cannot  but  add  that  this  firmness  never  degene- 
rated into  rudeness.  He  knew  and  observed  all  those 
decencies  of  life,  which  render  mutual  intercourse 
agreeable  ;  and  he  had  that  ease  of  manner,  among  all 
classes  of  society,  which  bespoke  perfect  self-possession 
and  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  world.  His  address 
in  meeting  the  manners  and  habits  of  thinking  of  persons 
of  rank,  either  when  they  were  inquiring  into  religion 
or  under  affliction  was  perhaps  scarcely  to  be  equalled. 


20  CHAR\CTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

The  associations  in  our  friend's  mind  were  often  of  a 
very  humorous  kind.  He  had  a  strong  natural  turn  for 
associations  of  this  nature,  which  threw  a  great  vivacity 
and  charm  over  his  familiar  conversation — employed  as 
it  was,  in  the  main,  like  every  faculty  of  his  mind,  for 
useful  ends.  He  was  fully  aware,  however  of  the  dan- 
ger of  possessing  such  a  faculty,  and  the  temptations  to 
which  it  exposed  him ;  prompted  and  supported  as  it 
was  by  a  buoyancy  of  spirits,  which  even  great  and 
lengthened  pain  could  scarcely  subdue.  I  have  looked 
at  him,  and  listened  to  him,  with  astonishment — when, 
meeting  with  a  few  other  young  men  occasionally  at  his 
house,  we  have  found  him  dejected  and  worn  out  with 
pain — stretched  on  his  sofa,  and  declining  to  join  in  our 
conversation — till  he  caught  an  interest  in  what  was 
passing — when  the  question  of  an  enquiring  or  burdened 
conscience  has  roused  him  to  an  exertion  of  his  great 
mind — he  has  risen  from  his  sofa — he  has  forgot  his  suf- 
ferings— and  he  has  left  us  nothing  to  do  but  to  admire 
and  treasure  up  most  profound  and  impressive  remarks 
on  the  Scripture,  on  the  heart,  and  on  the  world. 

The  mention  of  his  humor  and  his  vivacity  of  spirit 
leads  me  to  remark,  that  lam  not  writing  a  panegyric, 
but  drawing  a  character.  No  likeness  can  be  faithful, 
while  the  best  original  is  such  as  he  must  be  in  the  pre- 
sent state,  if  it  carry  no  shades.  I  have  no  wish  to  con- 
ceal the  shades  of  this  extraordinary  character.  Stern- 
ness and  levity  were  the  two  constitutional  evils,  which 
most  severely  exercised  him.  They  geem  to  have  been 
the  necessary  result,  in  an  imperfect  being,  of  the  union  of 
that  masculine  and  original  vigor  with  humor  and  an 
ardent  fancy,  which  met  in  the  structure  of  his  mind. 
So  far,  indeed,  had  grace  triumphed  over  these  consti- 
tutional enemies,  that  the  very  opposite  features  were 
the  most  prominent  in  his  character  ;  and  no  one  could 
approach  him  without  feeling  himself  with  a  most  ten- 
der and  SERIOUS  mind.  I  speak  of  those  occasional 
ebullitions,  which  tended  to  remind  him,  that,  though  he 
was  invested  with  a  new  and  triumphant  nature,  he  was 
yet  at  home  in  the  body,  and  subject  to  the  recurrence 
of  his  constitutional  infirmities. 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECll. 


21 


Yet,  though  Mr.  Cecil  felt  occasionally  temptations 
to  levity,  through  the  buoyancy  and  spring  of  his  ani- 
mal spirits,  his  prevailing  temper  was  of  a  quite  oppo- 
site description.  A  sensibility  of  spirit,  with  his  view 
of  human  nature  and  of  the  world,  threw  a  cast  of 
MELANCHOLY  ovcr  his  mind.  He  was  far  more  disposed 
to  weep  over  the  guilt  and  misery  of  man,  than  to  smile 
at  his  follies.  "I  have,"  said  he,  "a  salient  principle  in 
me.  My  spirits  never  sink.  Yet  I  have  a  strong  dash 
of  melancholy.  It  is  a  high  and  exqusite  feeling.  When 
1  first  awake  in  the  morning,  I  could  often  weep  with 
pleasure.  The  holy  calm — the  silence — the  freshness 
— thrill  through  my  soul.  At  such  moments  I  should 
feel  the  presence  of  any  person  to  be  intrusion  and  im- 
pertinence, and  common  affairs,  to  be  nauseous.  The 
stillness  of  an  empty  house  is  paradise  to  me.  The 
man  who  has  never  felt  thus  cannot  be  made  to  under- 
stand what  I  mean." 

"Hooker's  dying  thought,"  he  added,  is  "  congenial  to 
my  spirit.  '  I  am  going  to  leave  a  world  disordered, 
arid  church  disorganized,  for  a  world  and  a  church 
where  every  angel  and  every  rank  of  angels  stand  be- 
fore the  throne  in  the  very  post  God  has  assigned  them.' 
I  am  obliged  habitually  to  turn  my  eye  from  the  wretch- 
ed disorders  of  the  world  and  the  church,  to  the  beauty, 
harmony,  meekness,  and  glory  of  a  better  world." 

On  another  occasion,  he  said — "  I  have  been  long  in 
the  habit  of  viewing  every  thing  around  me  as  in  a  state 
of  ALIENATION.  I  havc  no  hold  on  my  dearest  comforts. 
My  children  must  separate  from  me.  One  has  his  lot 
cast  in  one  place,  and  another  elsewhere.  It  may  be  my 
particular  leading,  but  I  have  never  leaned  toward  my 
comforts  without  finding  them  give  way.  A  sharp 
warning  has  met  me — ^' These  are  aliens,  and  as  an  alien 
live  thou  among  them.'  We  may  use  our  comforts  by 
the  way.  We  may  take  up  the  pitcher  to  drink,  but 
the  moment  we  begin  to  admire,  God  in  love  will  dash  it 
to  pieces.  But  I  feel  no  such  alienation  from  the  church. 
1  am  united  to  Christ,  and  to  all  his  glorified  and  living 
members,  by  an  indissoluble  bond.    Here  iny  mind  can 


22 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


centre  and  sympathize,  without  suspicion  or  fear." 

"  I  feel,"  he  would  say  "  a  congeniality  with  the  char- 
acter of  Jeremiah.  I  seem  to  understand  him.  I  could 
approach  him,  and  fee!  encouraged  to  familiarity.  It  is 
not  so  with  Elijah  or  Ezekiel.  There  is  a  rigor  or  se- 
verity about  them,  which  seem  to  repel  me  to  a  dis- 
tance, and  excite  reverence  rather  than  sympathy  and 
love." 

In  a  very  interesting  case  on  which  I  consulted  him, 
he  gave  me  a  striking  view  of  this  ieature  in  his  char- 
acter— "  I  should  have  fallen  myself  into  an  utterly  dif- 
ferent mode  of  conducting  the  affair.  But  you  have 
not  the  melancholy  in  your  constitution  which  I  have, 
and  thefore  to  look  for  my  mode  of  thinking  in  you, 
would  be  expecting  what  ought  not  to  be  expected. 
This  is  a  strong  alternative  in  your  dispensation.  Now 
I  have  long  been  in  the  habit  of  viewing  every  thing  of 
that  aspect  rather  in  a  melancholy  light.  You  are 
standing  on  the  justice,  the  reason,  the  truth  of  your 
cause.  I  should  have  heard  God  saying — '  Son  of  man, 
follow  me.'  It  would  have  led  me  into  a  speculative — 
mystical  sort  of  way.  I  should  have  seen  in  it  the 
flood  that  is  sweeping  over  the  earth — the  utter  bank- 
ruptcy of  all  human  affairs.  Most  men,  if  they  had  stood 
by  and  compared  our  conduct,  would  have  commended 
yours  as  rational,  but  condemned  mine  as  enthusiastic — 
as  connecting  things  together  which  had  no  proper 
connexion  ;  but  this  is  my  way  of  viewing  every  alter- 
ative in  my  dispensation." 

The  heart,"  said  he,  "  must  be  divorced  from  its  idols. 
Age  does  a  great  deal  in  curing  the  man  of  his  frenzy  ; 
but,  if  God  has  a  special  work  for  a  man,  he  takes  a 
shorter  and  sharper  course  with  him.  Stand  ready  for 
it.  I  have  been  in  both  schools.  Bleeding  and  cauter- 
izing have  done  much  for  me;  and  age  has  done  much 
also — Can  I  any  longer  taste  what  I  eat  or  what  I 
drink  ?" 

Though  the  Memoir  of  Mr.  Cecil's  life,  and  the  Let- 
ters which  are  subjoined,  bear  ample  testimony  to  the 

TENDERNESS  OF  HIS  RELATIVE  AFFECTIONS,  yCt  I  CannOt 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


23 


but  add  here  what  a  friend  wrote  on  visiting  him,  many 
years  before  his  decease,  at  a  time  when  he  was  ex- 

ricting  the  death  of  Mrs.  Cecil: — "Mrs,  Cecil  was  ill 
called  on  Mr.  Cecil.  I  found  him  in  his  study,  sitting 
over  his  Bible  in  great  sorrow.  His  tears  fell  so  fast, 
that  he  could  only  utter  broken  sentences.  He  said, 
'Christians  do  well  to  speak  of  the  grace,  love,  and 
goodness  of  God ;  but  we  must  remember  that  he  is  a 
holy  and  jealous  God.  Judgment  must  begin  at  the 
house  of  God.  This  severe  stroke  is  but  a  farther  call 
to  me  to  arise  and  shake  myself.  My  hope  is  still  firm 
in  God.  He  who  sends  the  stroke,  will  bear  me  up  un- 
der it ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  if  I  saw  the  whole  of 
his  design,  I  should  say,  '  Let  her  be  taken  I'  Yet,  while 
there  is  life,  I  cannot  help  saying,  *  Spare  her  another 
year,  that  I  may  be  a  little  prepared  for  her  loss !'  I 
know  I  have  higher  ground  of  comfort:  but  I  shall 
deeply  feel  the  taking  away  of  the  dying  lamp.  Her 
excellence  as  a  wife  and  a  mother,  I  am  obliged  to 
keep  out  of  sight,  or  I  should  be  overwhelmed.  All  I 
can  do,  is,  to  go  from  text  to  text,  as  a  bird  from  spray 
to  spray.  Our  Lord  said  to  his  disciples,  where  is  your 
faith?  God  has  given  her  to  be  my  comfort  these 
many  years,  avd  shall  I  not  trust  him  for  the  future? 
This  is  only  a  farther  and  more  expensive  education 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry:  it  is  but  saying  more 
closely, '  will  you  pay  the  price?'  If  she  should  die,  I 
shall  request  all  my  friends  never  once  to  mention  her 
name  to  me.  I  can  gather  no  help  from  what  is  called 
friendly  condolence.  Job's  friends  understood  grief  bet- 
ter, when  they  sat  down  and  spake  not  a  word." 

Our  departed  friend  was,  at  once,  a  public  and  a  re- 
tired man.  While  his  sacred  office,  exercised  for  ma- 
ny years  in  a  conspicuous  sphere  brought  him  much 
before  the  world,  his  turn  of  mind  was  retired — he  court- 
ed solitude — he  held  converse  there  with  God,  and  his 
own  great  spirit  mingled  with  the  mighty  dead  ;  he  had 
such  a  practical  knowledge  and  deep  impression  of  the 
nothingness  of  the  whole  world  compared  with  spiritual 
and  eternal  realities,  and  he  had  so  deeply  felt  and  so 


HI 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


thoroughly  despised  its  lying  pretensions  to  meet  the 
wants  and  to  satisfy  the  longings  of  the  immortal  soul, 
that  it  was  no  sacrifice  to  him  to  turn  away  from  the 
shows  and  pursuits  of  life,  and  to  shut  out  all  the  splen- 
dor and  seductions  of  the  world. 

Yet  this  retired  spirit  was  not  unsocial,  morose,  or 
repulsive.  No  one  called  him  from  his  retirement  to 
ask  spiritual  counsel,  bat  he  was  met  with  tenderness 
and  urbanity.  No  congenial  mind  encountered  his, 
without  eliciting  sparks  both  of  benevolence  and  wisdom. 
Not  a  child  in  his  family  could  carry  its  little  com- 
plaints to  him,  but  he  would  stop  the  career  of  his  mind 
to  listen  and  relieve. 

His  study  was  his  favorite  retreat.  His  station  ex- 
posed him  to  constant  interruption,  some  necessary  and 
others  arising  from  the  injudiciousness  of  those  who  ap- 
plied to  him.  It  was  not  unusual  with  him  to  make  use 
of  his  power  of  abstraction  on  these  occasions.  Time 
was  too  valuable  to  be  lavished  away  on  the  inconsid- 
eration  of  some  of  those,  who  thought  it  necessary  to 
call  on  him.  It  was  generally  his  practice,  not  imme- 
diately to  obey  a  summons  from  his  study,  but  when  he 
knew  he  had  to  do  with  persons  who  would  occupy 
much  of  his  time  by  a  long  conversation  before  the  busi- 
ness was  brought  forward,  rather  than  hurt  their  feel- 
ings he  would  carry  down  in  his  mind  the  train  of 
thought  which  he  was  pursuing  in  his  study,  and,  while 
that  which  was  beside  the  purpose  played  on  his  ear, 
his  mind  was  following  the  subject  on  which  it  had  en- 
tered before. 

Some  men  are  at  home  in  society ;  the  wide  world 
is  their  dwelling-place  ;  they  are  known  and  read  of  all 
men ;  they  have  a  peculiar  talent  for  improving  mixed 
society.  But  this  was  not  the  character  of  Mr.  Cecil. 
He  unfolded  himself,  indeed,  to  his  friends ;  but  those 
friends  could  not  but  feel,  that,  when  they  broke  in  on 
his  retirement  for  any  other  objects  than  what  were 
connected  with  his  high  calling,  they  were  intruders  on 
inestimable  time.  I  had  indeed,  the  privilege  and  hap- 
piness of  free  access  to  him  at  all  times,  for  a  consider 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


25 


able  course  of  years,  while  I  was  his  assistant  in  the 
ministry;  but,  for  the  reasons  just  assigned,  though  I 
was  a  diligent  observer  of  his  mind  and  habits,  I  feel 
myself  not  prepared  to  speak  fully  of  his  more  domes- 
tic and  retired  cliaractcr. 

"  Retirement,"  he  said,  "  is  my  grand  ordinance.  Con- 
siderations govern  me.  Death  is  a  mighty  considera- 
tion with  me.  The  utter  vanity  of  every  tiling  under 
the  sun  is  another.  If  a  man  wishes  to  influence  my 
mind,  he  must  assign  considerations;  and  if  he  assigns 
one  or  two  which  will  weigh  well,  I  seem  impatient  to 
stop  him  if  he  is  proceeding  to  assign  more.  He  has 
given  me  a  consideration,  and  that  suffices.  The 
'Night  Thoughts'  is  a  great  book  with  me,  notwith- 
standing its  glaring  imperfections,  it  realizes  death  and 
vanity.  And,  because  this  is  the  frame  and  habit  of  my 
own  mind,  my  ministry  partakes  of  it :  and  must  par- 
take of  it,  if  I  would  preach  naturally  and  from  my 
heart." 

In  surveying  the  personal  character  of  Mr.  Cecil,  it 
remains  to  speak  somewhat  more  fully  of  his  intellectual 
powers. 

His  IMAGINATION  was  not  so  much  of  the  playful  and 
elegant,  as  bold,  inventive,  striking,  and  instinctively  ju- 
dicious and  discriminating. 

His  TASrc  in  the  sister  arts  of  Painting,  Poetry,  and 
Music  was  refined,  and  his  judgment  learned.  In  his 
younger  days  he  had  studied  and  excelled  in  painting 
and  music ;  and,  though  he  laid  them  aside  that  he 
might  devote  all  his  powers  to  his  work,  yet  the  savor 
ol"  thorn  so  fxr  remained,  that  I  have  been  witness  innu- 
merahli'  tiinc^.  Iiolli  in  puMic  and  private,  to  the  feli- 
city of  his  illustrations  drawn  frDin  these  suhjecis,  and 
to  the  superiority  that  his  intimate  knowledge  of  them 
gave  him  over  most  persons  with  whom  they  happened 
to  be  brought  forward.  His  taste,  when  young,  was 
for  Italian  music ;  but,  in  his  latter  years,  he  was  fond 
of  the  German  style,  or  rather  the  softer  Moravian. 
Anthems,  or  any  pieces  wherein  the  words  were  reiter- 
ated, he  disliked,  for  public  worship  especially,  as  they 
c 


26 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


sacrificed  the  real  spirit  of  devotion  too  much  to  the 
music.  His  feelings  on  this  subject  were  exquisite. 
"Pure,  spiritual,  sublime  devotion,"  he  would  say," should 
be  the  soul  of  public  music."  He  often  lamented  tlie 
introduction  of  any  other  style  of  architecture  in  places 
of  worship,  beside  that  which  was  so  peculiarly  appro- 
priate, and  which,  because  it  was  so,  called  up  associa- 
tions best  suited  to  the  purposes  of  meeting.  He  said 
most  strikingly — "  I  never  enter  a  Gothic  church,  with- 
out feeling  myself  impressed  with  something  of  this  idea 
— "  Within  these  walls  has  been  resounded  for  centuries, 
by  successive  generations,  'Thou  art  the  King  of  Glory, 

0  Christ  I  The  very  damp  that  trickles  down  the  walls, 
aud  the  unsightly  green  that  moulders  upon  the  pillars, 
are  far  more  pleasing  to  me  from  their  associations,  than 
the  trim,  finished,  classic,  heathen  piles  of  the  present 
fashion." 

His  powers  of  comparison,  analogy,  and  Judomiovt 
have  been  rarely  equalled.  These  h^d  been  exercised 
so  long  and  with  so  much  energy  on  all  the  conditions 
and  relations  around  him — on  the  word  of  God — on  his 
own  mind — on  the  history,  opinions,  passions,  prejudices, 
and  motives  of  men  in  every  age,  and  of  every  charac- 
ter and  station — on  moral  causes  and  effects — on  every 
subject  that  can  come  within  the  grasp  of  a  philosopliic 
mind — that  the  result  was  a  wf.^do.m  so  prominent  and 
commanding,  that  eveiiy  man  felt  himself  with  a  mind 
of  the  very  first  order  both  in  capability  and  acquire- 
ment. In  some  cases,  wherein  my  wishes,  perhaps, 
formed  my  opinions :  and,  trying  to  hide  the  truth  from 
myself,  I  have  asked  his  opinion  as  a  confirmation  of  my 
own — he  has  unmasked  my  heart  to  itself,  by  his  wise 
and  searching  replies.  His  decisions  were  more  ac- 
cording to  circumstances  than  in  most  men;  and  when 
he  gave  them,  it  would  generally  bo  with  a  declaration 
that  other  circumstances  might  wholly  change  the  a';- 
pect  of  the  thing;  and  he  did  this  in  such  a  manner — if 

1  may  judge  by  my  own  case — as  often  to  make  a  man 
look  about  him,  and  bethink  himself  what  a  treacherous 
and  blind  party  he  had  to  transact  with  in  hisjjosom. 


CHARCATER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


27 


To  those  who  did  not  know  him  intimately,  he  might 
sometimes  appear  to  want  a  quickness  of  perception. 
Tht;  ap[)earancc  of  this  faculty  is  often  assumed,  where 
God  has  not  given  it.  Where  the  mind  does  decide  ra- 
pidly, its  conclusions  are  generally  partial  and  defective, 
in  proportion  to  their  rapidity.  Intuition  is  not  a  faculty 
of  the  present  comlition  of  being,  whatever  it  may  be 
of  that  toward  which  we  are  advancing.  He  affected 
no  such  quality,  yet  he  possessed  more  of  it  than  most 
men.  When  he  did  not  fully  understand  what  was  ad- 
dressed to  him.  he  said  so;  and  his  mind  was  so  fami- 
liar with  the  difficulty  of  discovering  the  truth  through 
the  veils  and  shades  thrown  over  her  by  prejudice  and 
self-love,  that  he  did  not  hastily  bring  himself  to  think 
that  he  possessed  your  full  meaning. 

His  good  sense  and  wisdom  led  him  to  avoid  all  pe- 
cuLiARiTY  AND  liccKN riuci lY.  Hc  was  decidcdly  ad- 
verse to  every  thing  of  this  nature.  "  When  any  thing 
peculiar  appears,"  he  would  say,  "  in  a  religious  man's 
manners,  or  dress,  or  furniture,  this  is  supposed  by  the 
world  to  constitute  his  religion.  A  clergyman  indeed  is 
allowed  by  common  consent,  and  indeed  it  is  but  decent 
in  him,  to  have  every  thing  about  him  plain  and  sub- 
stantial, ratiier  than  ornamental  and  fashionable." 

TuR  ruitsoN.VL  CHARACTER  of  Mr.  Cccil  had  a  mani- 
fest influence  on  his  MINISTERIAL.  We  find  him 
fre(|uently  accountiu'^  for  tliose  views  and  feelings  which 
prevailed  in  his  ministry,  by  a  reference  to  his  constitu- 
tion and  his  early  history. 

His  sE.\TiMi;NTrf  OM  THE  MINISTERIAL  OFFICE  arc  Scat- 
tered through  his  writings,  as  this  was  ever  present  to 
his  mind.  Wherever  he  was,  and  whatever  was  his 
employment,  he  was  always  the  Christian  tninister.  He 
was  ever  on  the  watch  to  do  the  work  of  an  evangelist ; 
and  to  make  full  proof  of  his  ministry. 

I  have  collected  together  his  thoughts  on  this  subject 
in  some  sections  of  his  "Remains;"  and  I  think  it 
impossible  that  any  young  minister  should  read  these 
thoughts,  without  imbibing  a  higher  estimation  of  his 


28 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


sacred  office.  More  will  be  found  on  these  points  in  the 
following  views  of  his  ministerial  character  gathered 
from  his  own  lips. 

These  views  were  most  striking  and  sublime.  "A 
minister  is  a  Levite.  In  general,  he  has,  and  he  is  to  have, 
no  inheritance  among  his  brethren.  Other  men  are  not 
Levites.  They  must  recur  to  means,  from  which  a  mi- 
nister has  no  right  to  expect  any  thing.  Their  affairs 
are  all  the  little  transactions  of  this  world.  But  a  mi- 
nister is  called  and  set  apart  for  a  high  and  sublime  bu- 
siness. His  transactions  are  to  be  between  the  living 
and  the  dead — between  heaven  and  earth ;  and  he  must 
stand  as  with  wings  on  his  shoulders.  He  must  look, 
therefore,  for  every  thing  in  his  affairs  to  be  done  for 
him  and  before  his  eyes.  I  am  at  a  loss  to  conceive 
how  a  minister,  with  right  feeling,  can  plot  and  contrive 
for  a  living.  If  he  is  told  that  there  is  such  a  thing  for 
liim  if  he  will  make  such  an  application,  and  that  it  is 
to  be  so  obtained  and  so  only,  all  is  well — but  not  a  step 
farther.  It  is  in  vain,  however,  to  put  any  man  on  act- 
ing in  this  manner,  if  he  be  not  a  Levite  in  principle  and 
in  character.  These  must  be  the  expressions  of  a  na- 
ture communicated  to  him  from  God — a  high  principle 
of  faith  begetting  simplicity.  He  must  be  an  eagle  tow- 
ering toward  heaven  on  strong  pinions.  The  barn-door 
hen  must  continue  to  scratch  her  grains  out  of  ihe  dung- 
hill." 

He  thought  that  the  life  of  a  minister,  with  respect  to_ 
worldly  affairs,  ought  to  be  peculiarly  above  that  of 
other  men.  a  life  of  faith.  It  was  his  maxim,  to  lay  out 
no  money  unnecessarily — and,  with  this  principle,  he  re- 
garded his  purse  as  in  God's  hands,  and  found  it  like  the 
barrel  of  meal  and  the  cruise  of  oil.  He  confessed  that 
he  could  advise  this  conduct  in  no  case  but  in  that  of  a 
Christian  minister,  who  was  a  wise  and  prudent,  as 
well  as  right-hearted  manager  of  his  affairs.  His  habit 
was,  to  be  the  child  of  simplicity  and  faith — acting  as  a 
servant  of  God,  on  those  principles  which  he  judged 
most  suitable  to  his  character  and  station. 

He  had  exalted  ideas  of  ministerial  authority — not  the 
authority  which  results  merely  from  office,  but  from 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


^9 


office  united  with  personal  character — not  the  claims  of 
priestly  arrogance,  but  the  claims  of  priestly  dignity. 
"I  never  choose  to  forget  that  I  am  a  pkiust,  because  I 
would  not  deprive  myself  of  the  right  to  dictate  in  my 
ministerial  capacity.  I  cannot  allow  a  man,  therefore, 
to  come  to  me  merely  as  a  friend,  on  his  spiritual  affairs, 
because  I  should  have  no  authority  to  say  to  him,  '  Sir, 
you  must  do  so  and  so.'  1  cannot  suffer  my  best  friends 
to  dictate  to  me  in  any  thing  which  concerns  my  mi- 
nisterial duties.  I  have  often  had  to  encounter  this 
spirit ;  and  there  would  be  no  end  of  it,  if  I  did  not 
check  and  resist  it.  I  plainly  tell  them  that  they  know 
nothing  of  the  matter.  I  ask  them  if  it  is  decent,  that 
a  man  immersed  in  other  concerns  should  pretend  to 
know  my  affairs  and  duties,  better  than  myself,  who,  as 
they  ought  to  believe,  make  them  the  study  of  my  life. 
I  have  been  disgusted — deeply  disgusted — at  the  man- 
ner in  which  some  men  of  flaming  religious  profession 
talk  of  certain  preachers.  They  estimate  them  just  as 
Garrick  would  have  estimated  the  worth  of  players,  or 
as  Handel  would  have  arranged  an  orchestra.  '  Such 
an  one  is  clever — he  is  a  master,' — Clever! — a  master! 
— Worth  and  character  and  dignity  are  of  no  weight  in 
the  scale." 

These  views  are  just  and  noble ;  and  they  are  suited 
to  his  own  great  mind,  and  the  entire  hold  which  his 
office  had  on  his  heart.  But — listening  with  his  whole 
soul  to  that  injunction,  Meditate  on  these  things,  give 
thyself  wholly  to  them — it  may  be  doubted  whether  he 
did  not  sometimes  challenge  to  his  office  more  respect 
than  the  party  concerned  could  be  expected  to  allow 
due. 

Mr.  Cecil's  preparation  and  training  for  this  ex- 
alted oi-FicE  have  been  already  spoken  of  in  the  view 
of  his  personal  character.  This  was,  as  has  been  seen, 
of  no  common  kind. 

His  aUALIFICATIONS  FOR  THE  DISCHAROE  OF  THE  MI- 
NISTRY were  peculiar.  The  great  natural  powers  which 
God  had  given  him,  were  moulded  and  matured  by  the 
training  and  discipline  through  which  he  was  led,  and 
were  consecrated  by  grace  to  the  service  of  his  Mas- 
c  2 


30 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


ter.  It  will  not  be  requisite  to  recapitulate  what  has 
been  said  on  this  subject.  I  shall  here  speak  only  of 
those  qualifications  which  were  more  appropriate  lo 
him  as  a  public  teacher. 

His  LEARNING  conslstcd  more  in  the  knowledge  of 
other  men's  ideas,  than  in  an  accurate  acquaintance 
with  the  niceties  of  the  languages.  Yet  he  was  better 
acquainted  with  these,  than  many  who  devote  a  dispro- 
portionate time  to  this  acquisition.  His  incessant  appli- 
cation, chiefly  by  candle-light,  when  at  Oxford,  to  the 
study  of  Greek,  of  which  he  was  enthusiastically  fond, 
brought  in  an  almost  total  loss  of  sight  for  six  months. 
He  had  determined  to  become  a  perfect  master  of  the 
niceties  of  that  refined  and  noble  language.  The  counsel, 
however,  which  he  received  from  Dr.  Bacon,  and  which 
is  recorded  in  his  "  Remains,"  under  the  head  of  '•  Miscel- 
laneous Remarks  on  the  Christian  Ministry,"  put  him  on 
proportioning  his  attention  more  according  to  the  future 
utility  of  his  pursuits  than  he  had  been  accustomed  to. 
"I  was  struck  with  his  advice,"  he  said,  "I  had  an  un- 
settled sort  of  religion,  but  enough  to  make  me  see  and 
choose  the  truth  which  he  set  before  me." 

So  solid  and  extensive  was  Mr.  Cecil's  real  learning, 
that  there  were  no  important  points,  in  morals  or  reli- 
gion, on  which  he  had  not  read  the  best  authors,  and 
made  up  his  mind  on  the  most  mature  deliberation  ;  nor 
could  any  topic  be  started  in  history  or  philosophy,  on 
subjects  of  art  or  of  science,  with"  which  he  was  not 
found  more  generally  acquainted  than  other  men.  But 
while  he  could  lay  these  parts  of  learning  under  con- 
tribution to  aid  him  in  his  one  object  of  impressing  truth 
on  man,  he  was  a  master  in  the  "learning  which  is  more 
peculiarly  appropriate  to  his  profession.  He  was  so 
much  in  the  habit  of  daily  reading  the  Scriptures  in  the 
originals,  that  as  he  told  me,  he  went  to  this  employ  na- 
turally and  insensibly.  He  limited  himself  to  no  stated 
quantity:  but,  as  his  time  allowed,  he  read, one  or  two, 
and  sometimes  five  or  six  chapters  daily. 

Mr.  Cecil  had  the  power  of  exciting  and  preserv- 
ing ATTENTION  abovc  most  men.  All  his  effort  was  di- 
rected, first  to  engage  attention,  and  then  to  repay  it — 
to  allure  curiosity,  and  then  to  gratify  it. 


CHARACTKll  OF  MR,  CECIL. 


31 


Till  the  attention  was  i^aincd  he  felt  that  nothing 
could  be  eflbctcd  on  the  mind.  Sometimes  he  would 
have  recourse  to  unusual  methods,  suited  indeed  to  his 
auditor}-,  to  awaken  and  fix  their  minds.  "  I  was  once 
preaching,"  he  said,  "a  (Jiiarity  Sermon  where  the  con- 
gregation was  very  large,  and  chiefly  of  the  lower  or- 
der. 1  found  it  impossible  by  my  usual  method  of 
preaching,  to  gain  their  attention.  It  was  in  the  after- 
noon, and  my  hearers  seemed  to  meet  notliing  in  my 
preaching,  which  was  capable  of  rousing  them  out  of 
the  stupefaction  of  a  full  diimer.  Some  lounged,  and 
some  turned  their  backs  on  me.  'I  must  iiavk  attex- 
•rio.v,'  I  said  to  myself.  '1  will  be  heard' — The  case 
was  desperate  ;  and,  in  despair,  I  sought  a  desperate  re- 
medy. I  exclaimed  aloud,  '  Last  Monday  moi-ning  a 
man  was  hanged  at  Tyburn' — instantly  the  face  of 
tilings  was  changed  !  All  was  silence  and  expectation  ! 
I  caught  their  ear,  and  retained  it  through  the  Sermon." 
This  anecdote  leads  me  to  observe  that  Mr.  Cecil  had, 
in  an  unusual  degree,  the  talent  of  adapting  his  ministry 
to  his  congregation.  While  he  was,  for  instance, 
preaching  on  the  same  day  at  Lothbury,  at  St.  John's 
morning  and  afternoon,  and  at  Spitalfields  in  the  even- 
ing— he  found  four  congregations  at  these  places,  in 
many  respects,  quite  distinct  from  one  another ;  and 
yet  he  adapted  his  preaching,  with  admirable  skill,  to 
meet  their  habits  of  thinking. 

But  when  he  had  gained  the  attention,  he  was  ever 
on  the  watch  not  to  weary  it.  He  seemed  to  have  con- 
tinually before  his  eyes  the  sentiments  of  our  great  critic 
and  moralist  :*  "  Tcdiousness  is  the  most  fatal  of  all 
faults  ;  negligences  or  errors  are  single  and  local,  but  te- 
diousncss  pervades  the  whole;  other  faults  are  censured 
and  forgotten;  but  the  power  of  tcdiousness  propagates 
itself  He  that  is  weary  the  first  hour,  is  more  weary 
the  second  ;  as  bodies  forced  into  motion,  contrary  to 
their  tendency,  pass  more  and  more  slowly  through 
every  successive  interval  of  space."  Mr.  Cecil  would 
say,  «  You  have  a  certain  quantity  of  attention  to  work 
♦  Lives  of  the  Poets,  Vol.  iii.  p.  35. 


32 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


on:  make  the  best  use'of  it  while  it  lasts.  The  iron 
will  cool,  and  then  nothing,  or  worse  than  nothing  is 
done.  If  a  preacher  will  leave  unsaid  all  x>ain  repeti- 
tions, and  watch  against  undue  length  in  his  entrance 
and  width  in  his  discussion,  he  may  limit  a  written  ser- 
mon to  half  an  houi-,  and  one  from  notes  to  forty  mi- 
nutes ;  and  this  time  he  should  not  allow  himself  to  ex- 
ceed, except  on  special  occasions." 

His  POWER  OF  iLLusTRATiov  was  great  and  versatile. 
His  topics  were  chiefly  taken  from  Scripture  and  from 
life.  His  manner  of  illustrating  his  subjects  by  Scrip- 
ture examples,  was  the  most  finished  1  ever  heard. 
They  were  never  introduced  violently  or  abruptly  ;  but 
his  matter  was  so  moulded  in  prepa,ration  for  them,  by 
a  few  well  turned  sentences,  that  the  illustration  seemed 
to  be  placed  in  the  Scripture  almost  for  the  sake  of  the 
doctrine.  The  general  features  of  the  character  or  his- 
tory were  left  in  the'  back  ground,  and  those  only  which 
were  appropriate  to  the  matter  in  hand  were  brought 
forward,  and  were  thus  presented  to  the  mind.  His  ta- 
lent in  discriminating  the  striking  features,  and  connect- 
ing them  with  his»matter,  was  so  peculiar,  that  the  his- 
tories of  Abrahaft,  of  Jacob,  of  David,  and  of  St.  Paul, 
seemed  in  his  hands,  to  be  evgr  new,  and  to  be  exhaust- 
less  treasures  of  illustration. 

The  turn  both  of  his  mind  and  of  his  experience 
seemed  to  lead  him  to  this  method.  What  he  did,  there- 
fore, with  ease  and  feeling,  it  was  natural  should  be 
done  frequently  ;  and,  accordingly,  I  have  scarcely  ever 
heard  a  sermon  from  him  in  which  there  were  not  re- 
peated exercises  of  this  peculiar  talent ;  and  in  some 
sermons  almost  the  entire  subject  has  been  treated  in 
this  manner. 

'  This  talent  of  illustrating  his  subjects,  and  particu- 
larly of  seizing  incidents  for  improvement,  gave  an  edge 
to  his  wise  admonitions  in  private  ;  and  fixed  them  deep 
in  the  memory.  Riding  with  a  friend  on  a  very  windy 
day,  the  dust  was  so  troublesome,  that  his  companion 
wished  they  were  at  their  journey's  end,  where  they 
might  ride  in  the  fields  free  from  dust;  and  this  wish  he 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


33 


repeated  more  than  once  while  on  tlie  road.  Wlien 
they  reached  the  fields,  the  flies  so  teazed  his  friend's 
horse,  that  he  could  scarcely  keep  his  seat  on  the  saddle. 
On  his  bitterly  complaining,  "Ah  I  Sir,"  said  Mr.  Cecil, 
"  when  you  were  in  the  road,  the  dust  was  your  only 
trouble,  and  all  your  anxiety  was  to  get  into  the  fields ; 
you  forgot  that  the  fly  was  there  I  Now  this  is  a  true 
picture  of  human  life ;  and  you  will  find  it  so  in  all  the 
changes  you  make  in  future.  We  know  the  trials  of  our 
present  situation :  but  the  next  will  have  trials,  and  per- 
haps worse,  though  they  be  of  a  different  kind." 

At  another  time,  the  same  friend  said  he  should  es- 
teem it  as  a  favor,  if  he  would  tell  him  of  any  thing 
which  he  might  in  future  see  in  his  conduct  which  he 
thought  improper.  "  Well,  Sir,"  he  said,  "many  a  man 
iias  directed  the  watchman  to  call  him  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  has  then  appeared  very  anxious  for  his  coming 
early ;  but  the  watchman  has  come  before  he  has  been 
ready  for  him !  1  have  seen  many  people  very  desirous 
of  being  told  their  faults  ;  but  I  have  seen  very  few  who 
were  pleased  when  they  received  the  information. 
However,  I  like  to  receive  an  invitation,  and  I  have  no 
reason  to  suppose  you  will  be  displeased  till  I  see  it  so. 
I  shnll  therefore  remember  that  you  have  asked  for  it." 

His  STYLE,  particularly  in  preaching  and  in  free  con- 
versation, was  easy  and  natural.  If  he  ever  labored  his 
expression,  it  was  in  search  of  emphasis,  rather  than  pre- 
cision— of  words  which  would  penetrate  the  soul,  ra- 
ther than  round  his  period,  and  float  in  the  ear.  He 
considered  that  vigorous  conceptions  would  clothe  them- 
selves in  the  fittest  expressions — 

Vcrbaque  provisam  rem  non  invita  sequentur. 

Or,  as  Milton  has  admirably  said — "  True  eloquence  I 
find  to  be  none,  but  the  serious  and  hearty  love  of  truth ; 
and  that,  whose  mind  soever  is  fully  possessed  with  a 
fervent  desire  to  know  good  things,  and  with  the  dear- 
est charity  to  infuse  the  knowledge  of  them  to  others, 
WHEN  SUCH  A  MAN  WOULD  SPEAK,  his  words,  like  so  ma- 
ny nimble  and  airy  servitors,  trip  about  liim  at  command, 


34 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


and  in  well  ordered  files,  as  he  would  wish,  fall  abruptly 
into  their  own  places." 

His  written  style  has  less  ease  than  that  of  his  con- 
versation or  preaching.  He  excelled  rather  in  strong 
intuitive  sense,  than  in  a  train  of  arguments;  and  more 
in  the  liveliness  of  his  thoughts,  than  in  their  arrange- 
ment. He  would  put  down  his  thoughts  as  they  arose 
— often  at  separate  times,  and  as  suggested  by  the  occa- 
sion— and  was  not  always  nice  in  rejecting  obsolete  ex- 
pressions, or  antithesis  in  sense.  This  occasioned  a 
want  of  flow  and  ease  in  many  parts  of  his  writings, 
■which  was  obviated  by  the  warmth  of  conversation  or 
preaching.  ^ 

Impression  was  the  leading  feature  of  his  ministry 
Perhaps  the  information  conveyed  by  it  to  the  mind 
was  not  sufficiently  systematic  and  minute.  He  had 
seen  so  much  the  evil  of  spending  the  preacher's  tima 
in  doctrinal  statements,  that  possibly  there  wns  some  defi- 
ciency in  this  respect  in  his  own  practice.  When,  indeed, 
he  had  to  introduce  religion  to  his  congregations  at  St. 
John's  or  Chobham,  on  his  first  entering  on  those  char- 
ges, he  dealt  with  them  as  a  people  needing  information 
on  first  principles  :  but  my  remark  applies  to  the  habit 
and  course  of  his  ministry.  For,  however  true  it  is, 
that,  when  a  man  becomes  a  serious  reader  of  God's 
word,  he  must  grow  in  the  knowledge  of  the  truth; 
yet  many  will  still  read  the  Bible  with  an  indiscriminating 
mind,  unless  their  minister's  statements  give  them,  not 
only  a  lucid  general  view  of  doctrines,  but  somewhat  of 
a  systematic  and  connected  view ;  and  not  a  few — bu- 
ried in  the  cares  of  the  world — will  derive  all  theif 
notions  of  the  system  of  divine  truth  from  what  they 
hear  in  public. 

Mr.  Cecil  wrote  and  spoke  to  mankind.  He  dealt 
with  the  business  and  bosoms  of  men.  An  energy  of 
truth  prevailed  in  his  ministry,  which  roused  the  con- 
science; and  a  benevolence  reigned  in  his  spirit,  which 
seized  the  heart ;  yet  1  much  question  whether  the  pre- 
vailing effect  of  his  preaching  was  not  determination 
grounded  on  conviction  and  admiration  rather  than  on 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


35 


EMOTION.  When  in  perfect  health  and  spirits,  and  mas- 
ter of  his  subject,  his  eloquence  was  finished  and  strik- 
ing:  but,  though  there  was  often  a  tenderness  which 
awakened  corresponding  feelings  in  the  hearer,  yet  his 
eloquence  wanted  that  vehement  passion  which  over- 
powers and  carries  away  the  minds  of  others. 

— si  vis  me  flera,  dolendum  est 
Primum  ipsi  tibi  

This  is  the  great  secret  for  getting  hold  of  the  heart. 
But  as  not  much  of  the  impassioned  entered  into  the 
composition  of  his  nature,  and  he  was  at  the  same  time 
pre-eminent  in  genius  and  judgment,  it  could  not  but 
follow  that  ADMIRATION  sliould  alTcct  the  hearer  more 
frequently  than  strong  feelinc;.  A  friend  has  told  me 
that  he  has  often  lost  the  benefit  of  the  truth  which  Mr. 
Cecil  has  uttered,  in  admiration  of  the  exquisite  manner 
in  which  it  was  conveyed.  And  I  have  again  and  again 
detected  this  in  myself;  and  found  I  have  been  watch- 
ing eagerly  for  what  would  fall  next  from  him,  not  in  the 
spirit  of  a  new  horn  babe  that  desires  the  sincere  milk  of 
the  word  (hat  I  might  grow  thereby,  but  for  the  gratifi- 
cation of  a  mental  voluptuousness.  I  desire  no  one  will 
suppose  that  I  impute  to  him  any  of  the  studied  artifi- 
ces of  eloquence.  No  man  sought  more  than  he  did 
that  his  hearers'  faith  should  not  stand  in  the  wisdom 
of  men,  but  in  the  power  o  f  God.  No  man  more  sincere- 
ly aimed  to  have  his  speech  and  his  preaching  not  with 
enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom,  but  in  demonstration  of 
the  spirit  and  of  power;  yet,  moreover,  because  the 
preacher  xoas  wise  he  still  taught  the  people  knowledge  ; 
yea,  he  gave  good  heed,  and  sought  out  and  set  in  or- 
nna-  the  messages  of  divine  mercy.  The  preacher 
sotTGiiT  TO  FIND  OUT  acceptable  words,  yet  that  which 
loas  written  was  upright,  even  ivords  of  truth.  He  could 
not  but  treat  his  subjects  in  this  exquisite  manner,  while 
his  taste,  his  genius,  and  his  nature  remained;  yet  this 
could  not  but  be  sanctified  to  his  Master'  honor,  while 
he  retained  the  perfect  integrity,  the  deep  conviction,  and 
the  singleness  of  eye  which  his  Master  had  given  him. 
That  it  was  the  farthest  possible  from  trick  and  artifice 


36 


CHARACTER  OF  MR,  CECIL. 


might  be  seen  in  his  most  familiar  conversation  ;  where 
his  manner,  when  he  was  fully  called  out,  was  exactly 
what  it  was  in  the  pulpit.  His  mind  grasped  every 
subject  firmly  :  his  imagination  clothed  it  with  images 
— embodied  it — gave  it  lite — called  up  numberless  asso- 
ciations and  illustrations:  it  was  realized:  it  was  pre- 
sent to  him ;  his  taste  and  judgment  enabled  him  to 
seize  it  in  the  most  striking  points  of  view. 

"  His  apprehensions  of  religion,"  Mr.  Wilson  most 
justly  observes,  "  were  grand  and  elevated.  His  fine 
powers  governed  by  divine  grace,  were  exactly  calcu- 
lated to  seize  all  the  grandeur  of  the  Gospel.  The  stu- 
pendous magnitude  of  the  objects  which  the  Bible 
proposes  to  man,  the  incomparable  sublimity  of  eternal 
pursuits,  the  astonishing  scheme  of  redemption  by  an  in- 
carnate Mediator,  the  native  grandeur  of  a  rational  and 
immortal  being  stamped  with  the  impress  of  God,  the 
fall  of  his  being  into  sin,  and  poverty  and  meanness,  and 
guilt,  his  recovery  by  grace  to  more  than  his  original 
dignity  in  the  love  and  service  of  his  Creator,  -filled  cll 
his  soul.  He  seemed  often  to  labor  with  an  imagina- 
tion occupied  with  his  noble  theme.  He  felt,  and  he 
taught,  that  no  other  subject  was  worthy  the  consi- 
deration of  man.  In  comparison  with  it,  he  led  his 
auditors  to  condemn  and  trample  on  all  the  petty  objects 
of  this  lower  world.  Its  meanness,  its  uncertainty,  its 
deceit,  its  vanity,  its  vexation,  its  nothingness,  he  set  ful- 
ly in  their  view.  He  even  made  them  look  down  with 
a  generous  concern  on  those  who  were  buried  in  its  in- 
terests and  who  forgot,  amidst  the  toys  of  children,  the 
real  business  of  life. 

Some  of  his  printed  sermons  are  perfect  models  ot 
simplicity,  vivacity,  and  effect.  That,  for  instance,  on 
the  "  Power  of  Faith." 

His  COUNTENANCE,  though  not  modelled  altogether 
after  the  artificial  rules  of  beauty,  beamed  in  animated 
conversation  and  in  the  pulpit,  with  the  beauty  of  a 
great  and  noble  mind.  Dignity  and  benevolence  weie 
strongly  portrayed  there.  The  variety  of  its  expression 
■was  admirable ;  nor  could  any  one  feel  the  full  force  of 
the  soul  which  he  threw  into  his  discourses,  if  this  ex- 


CHAUAOTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


37 


prcssion  was  concealed  from  liiin  by  distance  or  situation. 
His  ACTION  was  graceliil  and  forcible:  latterly,  owing 
perhaps  to  bis  increasing  infirmities  and  almost  uninter- 
rupted pain,  it  discovered,  1  think,  some  constraint  and 
want  of  ease. 

There  was  a  FAMiLrARiTY  and  an  authority  in  his 
manner  which  to  strangers  sometimes  appeared  dogma- 
tism. His  manner  was,  in  truth,  like  that  of  no  other 
man.  It  was  altogelhcr  original;  and  because  it  was 
original,  it  sometimes  oflended  those  wiio  had  no  other 
idea  of  manner  than  of  that  to  which  they  had  been  ac- 
customed. Yet  even  the  prejudiced  could  not  hear 
him  with  indifference.  There  was  a  dignity  and  com- 
mand, a  decision  and  energy,  a  knowledge  of  the  heart 
and  the  world,  an  uprightness  of  mind  and  a  desire  to 
do  good,  and  all  this  united  witii  a  tenderness  and  affec- 
tion, which  few  could  witness  without  some  favorable 
impressions. 

His  most  striking  sermons  were  generally  those, 
which  he  preached  from  very  short  texts,  such  as — My 
soul  hangefJi  on  thee — All  my  fresh  springs  are  in  thee 
— O  Lord!  teach  me  my  way — As  thy  day  is  so  shall 
thy  strength  he.  In  these  sermons,  the  whole  subject 
had  probably  struck  him  at  once;  and  what  comes  in 
this  way  is  generally  found  to  be  more  natural  and  for- 
cible, than  what  the  mind  is  obliged  to  excogitate  by  its 
own  laborious  efn:)rts:  As  the  suhjoct  grows  out  of  the 
state  of  the  mind  at  the  time,  there  is  that  degree  of  af- 
finity between  them  which  occasions  the  mind  to  seize 
it  forcibly,  and  to  clothe  it  with  vivid  colors.  A  train 
of  the  most  natural  associations  presents  itself,  as  one 
link  draws  with  it  its  kindred  links.  The  attention  is  en- 
gaged— the  mind  is  concentrated — scripture  and  life 
present  themselves  without  effort,  in  the  most  natural 
relations  which  they  bear  to  the  subject  that  has  full 
possession  of  the  man,  and  composition  becomes  easy, 
and  even  interesting. 

It  was  a  frequent  and  very  useful  method  with  him, 
to  open  and  explain  his  subject  in  a  very  brief  manner, 
and  then  to  draw  inferences  from  it ;  which  inferences 

D 


38 


.  CUARACTKR  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


formed  the  great  body  of  the  sermon,  and  were  ratlier 
matters  of  addhrss  to  the  consciences  and  hearts  of  his 
hearers,  than  of  DIS(:us^ilo^J  ;  so  that  the  whole  subject 
was  a  kind  of  application.  This  seems  to  me  to  have 
been  his  most  effective  manner  fit'  preaching.  Take  an 
instance:  Matt,  xviii.  20.  I.  Explain  the  words.  II. 
Raise  from  tiiem  two  or  three  remarks  :  Contemplate 
1.  The  Glory  and  Godhead  of  our  Master  :  2.  The 
honor  which  he  puts  on  his  house  and  the  assembly  of 
his  Saints:  3  .The  piivileoe  of  being  one  of  Cin-ist's 
servants  whom  he  will  meet :  4.  The  obligations  lying 
on  such  servants — What  manner  of  servants  ought  such 
to  he? 

He  v.'as  remarkably  observant  of  character.  When 
I  have  asked  his  opinion  of  a  person,  he  has  frequently 
surprised  me  with  such  a  full  and  accurate  delineation 
of  him,  as  he  could  have  obtained  only  by  a  very  pa- 
tient and  penetrating  observation.  The  reason  of  this 
appeared,  when  I  learnt  that  it  was  his  custom  in  his 
sermon  notes,  when  he  wished  to  describe  a  particular 
character,  not  to  put  down  its  chief  features  as  they  oc- 
cured  to  his  mind  from  the  general  observations  which 
he  had  made  on  men ;  but  he  would  put  down  the  in- 
itial of  some  person's  name,  with  whom  he  was  well 
acquainted,  and  who  stood  in  his  mind  as  the  represen- 
tative of  that  class  of  characters.  He  had  nothing  to 
do  then,  when  he  came  to  enlarge  on  that  part  of  his 
subject,  but  strongly  to  realize  to  himself  the  person  in 
question,  and  he  would  draw  a  much  more  vi'vid  pic- 
ture of  a  real  character  than  he  could  otherwise  do.* 

Mr.  Cecil  was  not  himself  led  to  the  knowledge  of 
God  through  great  terrors  of  conscience:  his  ministry 
did  not,  therefore,  so  much  abound  in  dehneations  of  the 

•  Lavatsr  somcwliere  mentions  an  admirable  practice  of  his  own. 
whicVi  carried  our  friend's  principle  into  constant  use  in  his  ministry. 
He  fixed  on  certain  persons  in  his  congregation,  whom  he  considered 
as  repres-niaiives  of  tlis  respective  classjs  into  which  his  hearers  might 
be  properly  divided — amounting,  as  I  recollect,  to  seve.n.  In  compos- 
ing his  discom-ses,  he  kept  each  of  these  persons  steadily  in  his  eye;  and 
labored  so  to  mould  his  subject  as  to  meet  the  case  of  every  one— by 
which  incomparable  rule  he  rendered  himself  intelligible  and  interesting 
to  all  classes  of  his  flock. 


CHARACTER  Ob"  MR,  CECIL. 


39 


workings  and  malignity  of  sin,  as  in  those  topics  which 
^revv  out  of  his  course  of  experience;  noi"  (hd  lie  enter 
Frequently  or  largely  into  the  details  of  the  spiritual  con- 
flict. He  was  himself  drawn  to  (•ot\,  and  subdued  hy 
a  sense  of  divine  mercy  and  I'ricndship  ;  he  was  led, 
therefore,  to  detail  largely  the  transactions  oi'  the  believ- 
ing mind  with  God,  in  the  exercise  oi'  dcj)endance  and 
submission. 

He  was  more  aware  than  most  men  of  the  nirficuL- 

TY  OF  UKINGING  DOWN  THE  I'RUTll  TO  THE  CO.Ml'KEUIO.VSIOM 
OF  THE  MASS  OF  UEAREUS. 

A  young  minister  may  leave  college  with  the  best  the- 
ory in  the  world,  and  he  may  take  with  him  into  a 
country  parish  a  de:ermination  to  talk  in  tin;  language 
of  simplicity  itself;  but  the  actual  capacity  to  make  him- 
self understood  and  fell  is  so  far  removed  from  his  for- 
mer habits,  that  it  is  only  to  be  acquired  by  experience. 
Hear  how  wisely  Mr.  Cecil  wrote  to  a  young  friend 
about  to  take  orders  ; — "  I  advised  him,  since  he  was  so 
near  his  entrance  into  the  ministry,  to  lay  aside  all  other 
studies  for  the  present,  but  the  one  1  should  now  recom- 
mend to  him.  I  would  have  him  select  some  very 
poor  and  uninformed  persons,  and  pay  them  a  visit. 
His  object  should  be  to  explain  to  them,  and  demon- 
strate the  truth  of  the  solar  system.  He  should  first  of 
all  set  himself  to  inake  that  system  perfectly  intelligible 
to  them,  and  then  he  should  demonstrate  it  to  iheh-  lull 
conviction  against  all  that  the  followers  of  Tycho  Bralie, 
or  any  one  else  could  say  against  it.  He  would  tell  me 
it  was  impossible :  they  would  not  understand  a  single 
term.  Impossible  to  make  them  astronomers !  And 
shall  it  be  thought  an  easy  matter  to  make  them  undei'- 
Btaiid  redemption?" 

He  gave  the  following  account  of  his  habit  of  pre- 
paration FOR  THE  PULPIT  :  

"1  generally  look  into  the  portions  of  Scripture  ap- 
pointed by  the  church  to  be  read  in  the  services  of  the 
day.  1  watch,  too,  for  any  new  light  which  may  be 
thrown  on  passages  in  the  course  of  reading,  conversa- 
tion, or  prayer.    I  seize  the  occasions  furnished  by  my 


40 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


own  experience— my  state  of  mind — my  family  occur- 
rences. Subjects  taken  up  in  this  manner  are  always 
likely  to  meet  the  cases  and  wants  of  some  persons  in 
the  congregation.  Sometimes,  however,  I  hav6  no  text 
prepared  ;  and  I  have  found  this  to  arise  generally  from 
sloth  :  I  go  to  work :  this  is  the  secret :  make  it  a  bus- 
iness :  something  will  arise  where  least  expected. 

"It  is  important  to  begin  preparation  early.  If  it  is 
driven  off  late,  accidents  may  occur  which  may  prevent 
due  attention  to  the  subject.  If  the  latter  days  of  the 
week  are  occupied,  and  the  mind  driven  iffto  a  corner, 
the  sermon  will  usually  be  raw  and  undigested.  Take 
time  to  reject  what  ought  to  be  rejected,  and  to  supply 
what  ought  to  be  supplied. 

"  It  is  a  favorite  method  with  me  to  reduce  the  text 
to  some  point  of  doctrine.  On  that  topic  I  enlarge,  and 
then  apply  it.  I  like  to  ask  myself—'  What  are  you  do- 
ing?— What  is  your  aim  V 

"  I  will  not  foretell  my  own  views  by  first  going  to 
commentators.  I  talk  over  the  subject  to  myself:  I 
write  down  all  that  strikes  me :  and  then  I  arrange 
what  is  written.  After  my  plan  is  settled,  and  my  mind 
has  exhausted  its  stores,  then  I  would  turn  to  some  of 
my  great  Doctors  to  see  if  I  am  in  no  error  :  but  I  find 
it  necessary  to  reject  many  good  things  which  the  Doc- 
tors say ;  they  will  tell  to  no  good  effect  in  a  sermon. 
Lvtruth,  to  be  effective,  we  must  draw  more  from  na- 
ture and  less  from  the  writings  of  men ;  we  must  study 
the  book  of  Providence,  the  book  oi' nature,  the  heart  of 
man,  and  the  book  of  God:  we  must  read  the  history 
of  the  world:  we  must  deal  with  matters  of  fact  before 
our  eyes." 

In  respect  to  mechanical  preparation,  Mr.  Cecil  was 
in  the  habit  of  using  eight  quarto  pages,  on  which  he 
put  down  his  main  and  subordinate  divisions,  with  such 
hints  as  he  thought  requisite.  These  notes,  written  in 
an  open  and  legible  manner,  such  as  his  eye  could  catch 
with  ease,  he  put  into  one  of  the  portable  quarto  Bibles, 
of  which  several  editions  were  printed  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  in  a  good  type,  but,  in  consequence  of  the  close- 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


41 


ness  and  excellence  of  the  paper,  such  as  bind  up  in  a 
very  compact  size.  Of  these  editions  there  are  some* 
which  are  printed  page  for  page  with  another  :  and  one 
of  these  editions  Mr.  Cecil  was  in  the  constant  hab;t  of 
using,  both  in  public  and  in  private,  from  the  mechani- 
cal assistance  afforded  to  him  in  turning  to  passages 
from  the  recollection  of  the  part  of  the  page  in  which 
they  occurred. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  hear  Mr.  Cecil's  own  account 

OF  HIS  MANNKR   OF  COMMENCING   HIS  MINISTRY;  aS  it  00- 

tices  mistakes  from  which  he  was  not  only  early  but 
most  effectually  delivered,  and  his  remarks  on  them  may 
afford  a  serious  caution  to  others. 

"I  set  out,"  he  said,  "  with  levity  in  the  pulpit.  It  was 
above  two  years  before  I  could  get  the  victory  over  it, 
though  I  strove  under  sharp  piercings  of  conscience. 
My  plan  was  wrong.  I  had  bad  counsellors.  I  thought 
preaching  was  only  entering  the  pulpit,  and  letting  off  a 
sermon.  I  really  imagined  this  was  trusting  to  God, 
and  doing  the  thing  cleverly.  I  talked  whh  a  wise  and 
pious  man  on  the  subject.  'There  is  nothing,'  said  he, 
'like  appealing  to  facts.'  We  sat  down  and  named 
names.  We  found  men  in  my  habit  disreputable.  This 
first  set  my  mind  right.  I  saw  such  a  man  might  some- 
times succeed:  but  I  saw,  at  the  same  time,  that  who- 
ever would  succeed  in  his  general  interpretations  ot 
Scripture,  and  would  have  his  ministry  that  of  a  work- 
man llial  ncedeth  not  to  he  ashamed — must  be  a  labori- 
ous man.  What  can  be  produced  by  men  who  refuse 
this  labor  ? — a  few  raw  notions,  harmless  perhaps  in 
themselves,  but  false  as  stated  by  them.  What  then 
should  a  young  minister  do  ? 

'•His  office  says,  'Go  to  your  books.  Go  to  retire- 
ment. Go  to  prayer.' — 'No!'  says  the  enthusiast,  'Go 
to  preach.  Go  and  be  a  witness!' — A  witness! — ot 
what? — Me  don't  know!" 

Thus  qualified  by  nature,  education,  and  grace — en- 
riched by  liis  various  manly  acquisitions— and  matured 

*  I  have  compared  four  of  those  Bibles,  viz.  Field's,  London,  1648— 
Haye's,  Camb.,  1670,  and  also  that  of  1677— and  Buck's,  Camb.,  with- 
out date. 

d2 


42 


GUARACTKR  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


by  experience,  lie  appeared  in  the  pulpit  unquestionably 
as  one  of  the  first  preachers — perhaps  the  very  first 
preacher  of  his  lime. 

He  was  sincerely  attached  to  the  church  of 
ENGLAXD,  both  by  principle  and  feeling  — to  her  ordeh 
and  DECORUM.  He  entered  into  the  spirit  of  those  obli- 
gations, which  lay  on  him  as  a  clergyman ;  and,  look- 
ing  at  general  consequences,  would  never  break  through 
the  order  and  discipline  of  the  church,  to  obtain  any 
particular,  local,  and  temporary  ends. 

In  the  more  private  exercise  of  his  pastoral  office, 
as  a  counsellor  and  friend,  he  manifested  great  faith- 
fulness, tenderness,  and  wisdom. 

In  proof  of  this  I  might  appeal  to  what  is  said  in  the 
"Remains,"  on  the  the  subject  of  "visiting  death-beds." 
I  shall  here  subjoin  a  few  more  illustrations  of  this  part 
of  his  character. 

An  interview  was  contrived  between  him  and  a  no- 
ble lady,  by  some  of  her  relations.  She  began  to  listen 
to  the  affiiirs  of  religion.  Her  life  had  been  gay  and 
trifling.  She  knew  that  he  understood  her  situation  ; 
and  she  began  to  introduce  her  case  by  saying  that  she 
supposed  he  thought  her  a  very  contemptible  and  wick- 
ed creature.  "No,  Madam,  I  do  not  look  at  you  in 
that  view.  I  consider  that  you  have  been  a  wanderer; 
pursuing  happiness  in  a  mistaken  road — an  immortal 
being  fluttering  through  the  present  short  but  important 
scene,  without  one  serious  concern  for  what  is  to  come 
after  it  is  passed  by.  And,  while  others  know  what  is 
to  happen  to  them,  and  wait  for  it,  you  are  totally  ig- 
norant of  the  subject." — "But,  Sir,  is  it  possible  to  arrive 
at  any  certainty  with  respect  to  a  future  condition?" — 
"  Why,  what  little  trifling  scenes  would  occupy  your 
ladyship  and  myself,  if  we  were  confined  to  this  small 
spot  of  a  carpet  that  is  under  our  feet !  The  world  is  a 
little,  mean,  despicable  scene  in  itself.  But  we  must 
leave  it ;  and  can  you  suppose  that  we  are  left  to  step 
into  another  state,  as  into  a  dark  abyss — not  knowing 
what  awaits  us  there  ?  No — the  next  step  I  take  from 
the  world  is  not  into  a  void  that  no  one  has  explored — 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CEC(L. 


43 


a  fathomless  abj'ss — a  chaos  of  clouds  and  darkness— 
but  I  know  what  it  is — I  am  assured  of  it."  He  said  to 
me  in  reporting  this  conversation,  "I  rested  on  this,  and 
left  it  to  work  on  lier  mind.  1  thought  it  better  to  de- 
fer the  subject  of  this  assurance  to  try  her,  and  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  she  feels  anxious  for  our  next  oc- 
casion of  meeting,  that  she  may  hear  how  we  can  make 
out  the  grounds  of  our  assurance."  This  is  one  among 
many  instances  of  the  wise  methods  in  which  he  accom- 
modated his  instructions  to  tiie  character. 

"  Many  of  my  people,"  he  said,  "  and  especially  fe- 
males, talk  thus  to  me — '  I  am  under  continual  distress 
of  mind.  I  can  lay  hold  of  no  permanent  ground  of 
peace.  If  I  seem  to  get  a  little,  it  is  soon  gone  again. 
I  am  out  at  sea,  without  compass  or  anchor.  My  heart 
sinks.  My  spirit  faints.  My  knees  tremble.  All  is 
dark  above,  and  all  is  horror  beneath.'  'And  pray 
what  is  your  mode  of  life  V  '  I  sit  by  myself.'  '  In  this 
small  room,  I  suppose,  and  over  your  fire?'  'A  con- 
siderable part  of  my  time.'  '  And  what  time  do  you 
go  to  bed  V  '  I  cannot  retire  till  two  or  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning.'  '  And  you  lie  late,  I  suppose,  in  the 
morning  V  'Frequently.'  '  And  pray  what  else  can  you 
expect  from  this  mode  of  life,  than  a  relaxed  and  un- 
strung system;  and,  of  course,  a  mind  enfeebled,  anxious, 
and  disordered  ?  I  understand  your  case.  God  seems  to 
have  qualified  me  to  understand  it,  by  especial  dispensa- 
tions. My  natural  disposition  is  gay,  volatile,  spirited. 
My  nature  would  never  sink.  But  I  have  sometimes 
felt  my  spirit  absorbed  in  horrible  apprehensions,  with- 
out any  assignable  natural  cause.  Perhaps  it  was  ne- 
cessary I  should  be  suffered  to  feel  this,  that  I  might 
feel  for  others  ;  for,  certainly,  no  man  can  have  any 
adequate  sympathy  with  others,  who  has  never  thus 
suffered  himself  I  can  feel  for  you  therefore,  while  I 
tell  you  that  I  think  the  affair  with  you  is  chiefly  physical. 
I  myself  have  brought  on  the  same  feelings  by  the  same 
means.  I  have  sat  in  my  study  till  I  have  persuaded 
myself  that  the  ceiling  was  too  low  to  suffer  me  to  rise 
and  stand  upright ;  and  air  and  exercise  alone,  could 
remove  the  impression  from  my  mind  !" 


44 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


His  taking  the  charge  of  St.  John's  Chapei.  is  the 
most  important  event  of  his  Hfe,  as  it  appears  to  have 
been  the  sphf?re  for  which  he  was  pecuharly  raised  up 
and  prepared  by  Providence. 

Tlie  circumstances  attending  his  establishment  of  a 
serious  and  devout  congregation  in  this  place,  mark  the 
strength  and  simplicity  of  his  mind  ;  while  they  may 
show  the  necessity  under  which  such  men  will  some- 
times be  brought,  of  acting  for  themselves,  with  perfect 
independence  of  the  whole  body  of  their  brethren. 

These  circumstances  he  related  to  me  as  follows: — 
"  Wiien  I  married,  I  lived  at  a  small  house  at  Islington, 
situated  in  the  midst  of  a  garden,  for  which  I  paid  14/. 
a  year.  My  annual  income  was  then  only  80/.,  and, 
with  this,  I  had  to  support  myself,  my  wife,  and  a  ser- 
vant. I  was  then,  indeed,  minister  of  St.  John's,  but  I  re- 
ceived nothing  from  the  place  for  several  of  the  earlier 
years.  When  I  was  sent  thither,  I  considered  thai  I 
was  sent  to  the  people  of  that  place  and  neighborhood. 
I  thought  it  my  duty,  therefore,  to  adopt  a  system  and  a 
style  of  preaching  which  should  have  a  tendency  to  meet 
their  case.  All  which  they  had  heard  before,  was  dry, 
frigid,  and  lifeless.  A  high,  haughty,  stalking  spirit  cha- 
racterised the  place.  I  was  thrown  among  men  of  the 
world,  men  of  business,  men  of  reading,  and  men  of 
thought.  I  began,  therefore,  with  principles.  1  preach- 
ed on  the  divine  authority  of  the  sacred  Scriptui-es.  I 
dissected  Saurin's  Sermons.  I  took  the  sinews  and  sub- 
stance of  some  of  our  most  masterly  writers.  I  preach- 
ed on  such  texts  as — Ifxje  believe  not  Moses  and  the  Pro- 
phets, neither  loill  ye  believe  though  one  arose  from  the 
dead.  I  set  myself  to  explain  terms  and  phrases.  My 
chief  object  was  under-ground  work.  But  what  was 
the  consequence  of  this  ?  An  outcry  was  raised  against 
me  throughout  the  religious  world.  It  was  said,  that,  at 
other  places,  I  continued  to  speak  the  truth  ;  but  that,  at 
St.  John's,  I  was  sacrificing  it  to  my  hearers.  Even  my 
brethren,  instead  of  entering  into  my  reasons  and  plan, 
lay  on  their  oars.  My  protectress  turned  her  back  on 
me.    I  hesitated,  at  first,  to  enter  on  so  great  a  risk : 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


45 


but,  with  grandeur  of  spirit,  she  told  me  she  would  put 
her  fortune  on  the  issue  :  if  any  benefit  resulted  from  it, 
it  should  be  mine,  and  she  would  bear  me  harmless  of 
all  loss.  She  heard  me  a  few  times,  and  then  wholly 
withdrew  herself,  and  even  took  away  her  servants. 
Some  of  ihem  would  now  and  then  steal  in  ;  but  as  they 
reported  that  they  got  '  no  food,'  the  report  did  but 
strengthen  the  prejudices  of  their  mistress.  She  could 
not  enter  into  rny  motives.  I  was  obliged  to  regard  her 
as  Huss  did  that  of  the  man  who  was  heaping  the  fag- 
gots round  him,  O  sancta  simplicitas !  She  could  not 
calculate  consequences,  and  was  unmoved  even  when 
I  placed  my  conduct  in  its  strongest  light — 'Can  yon 
attribute  any  but  the  purest  motives  to  me?  Ought 
not  the  very  circumstances  to  which  I  voluntarily  sub- 
ject myself  by  adhering  to  the  plan  you  condemn,  to  gain 
me  some  credit  fir  my  intentions  ?  Had  I  preached 
here  in  the  manner  I  preached  elsewhere,  you  know 
that  the  place  would  have  been  crowded  by  the  religi- 
ous world.  I  should  then  have  obtained  from  it  an  in- 
come of  200/.  or  300/.  a  year,  whereas  I  now  sit  down 
with  little  or  no  advantage  from  it,  though  I  have  a  fa- 
mily rising  up  about  me.  God  sent  me  hither  to  preach 
to  this  people,  and  to  raise  a  congregation  in  this  place  ; 
and  I  am  proceeding  in  tliat  system  and  way,  which 
seems  to  me  best  adapted  uuiler  God  to  meet  tlic  states 
of  this  people  ;  and  wliile  I  am  doing  this,  T  bring  on  my- 
self temporal  injury.  I  can  have  no  possible  motive  to 
sacrifice  the  truth  to  a  few  blind  Ph  irisees,  who  will 
never  while  I  live  become  my  friends.' 

"  1  labored  under  this  desertion  of  mv  friends  for  a 
long  time:  it  was  about  seven  years,  before  affu'rs  be- 
gan to  wear  such  an  aspect,  that  my  protectress  and 
others  allowed  that  matters  had  certainly  turned  out 
as  they  could  not  have  foreseen.  Several  witnesses 
rose  up  of  undoubted  and  authentic  character,  to  testify 
tlie  power  of  the  grace  of  God.  One  circumstance 
will  place  the  prejudice  which  existed  against  me  in  a 
strong  light.  A  converted  Jewess,  who  had  been  driven 
from  her  father's  house  on  account  of  her  sentiments, 


46 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


and  was  a  woman  of  great  simplicity  and  devotion,  re- 
fused to  accompany  a  friend  to  St.  John's  because,  as 
she  said,  she  could  not  worship  there  spii'iiually,  and 
rather  choose  to  spend  the  afternoon  among  her  friend's 
books  ;  in  which  employment,  I  doubt  not,  she  worship- 
ped God  in  the  spirit,  and  was  accepted  of  him.  For 
my  own  satisfaction,  I  wrote  down  at  large  the  reasons 
on  which  I  liad  formed  my  conduct,  for  I  was  almost 
driven  into  my  own  breast  for  support  and  justification. 
One  friend,  indeed,  stood  by  me.  He  saw  my  plan  and 
entered  fully  into  it ;  and  said  such  strong  things  on  the 
subject  as  greatly  confirmed  my  own  mind.  '  The 
Church  of  Christ,'  said  he,  '  must  sometimes  be  sacrific- 
ed for  Christ.'  A  certain  brother  preached  a  charity 
sermon;  and  in  such  a  style,  that  he  seemed  to  say  to 
me,  'Were  I  here,  you  would  see  howl  would  do  the 
thing.'  What  good  he  did,  I  know  not ;  but  some  of 
the  evil  I  know,  as  several  persons  forsook  the  chapel, 
and  assigned  his  sermon  as  the  reason ;  and  others  ex- 
pressed themselves  alarmed  at  the  idea  of  Methodism 
having  crept  into  the  place.  It  was  ill-judged  and  un- 
kind. He  should  have  entered  into  my  design,  or  have 
been  silent." 

About  the  middle  of  July,  1800,  Mr.  Cecil  entered  on 
the  Livings  of  Bisley  and  Ciiobham  in  Surry.  A  few 
weeks  after  this  I  visited  him  with  our  dear  and  mutual 
friend  Dr.  Fearon. 

Here  I  saw  him  in  a  quite  different  situation  from  any 
in  which  I  had  seen  him  before,  and  was  not  a  little  cu- 
rious to  remark  the  manner  in  which  he  would  treat  a 
set  of  plain  and  homely  villagers.  Though  he  was  re- 
peatedly in  great  anguish  during  the  day  which  we  pass- 
ed with  him,  yet  his  mind,  in  the  intervals,  was  so  vigor- 
ous and  luminous  that  I  have  scarcely  ever  gathered  so 
much  from  him  in  an  equal  time. 

On  this  occassion,  among  other  things  which  are  re- 
corded in  his  "  Remains,"  he  stated  to  us  his  views  and 
feelings  respecting  his  new  charge.  "  Bisley  is  a  rectory. 
It  is  completely  out  of  the  world.  The  farmers  in  these 
parts  are  mostly  occupiers  of  their  own  land.  They 


CHAUACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


47 


crowded  round  me  wlien  I  first  came,  and  were  earner 
to  make  bargains  with  me  for  the  tythe.  J  told  them  I 
was  ignorant  of  such  matters,  but  that  I  would  propose 
a  measure  which  none  of  them  could  object  to.  The 
farmers  of  Bislcy  should  nominate  three  farmers  of 
Chobham  parish ;  and  whatever  those  three  Chobham 
farmers  should  appoint  me  to  receive,  that  they  should 
pay.  This  was  putting  myself  into  their  power  indeed, 
but  the  one  grand  point  with  me  was  to  conciliate 
their  minds,  and  pave  the  way  for  the  gospel  in  these 
parishes.  And  so  far  it  answered  my  purpose.  I  had 
desired  the  three  farmers  to  throw  the  weight,  in  dubi- 
ous cases  into  the  farmer's  scale.  After  we  had  settled 
the  business,  one  of  the  three,  to  convince  the  Bisley 
f  irmers  that  they  had  acted  in  the  very  spirit  of  my  di- 
rections, proposed  to  find  a  person  who  would  immedi- 
ately give  them  50/.  a  year  for  their  bargain  with  me. 
This  has  given  them  an  idea  that  we  act  upon  high  and 
holy  motives." 

What  a  noble  trait  is  this  of  his  upright  and  disinter- 
ested mind  !  One  might  almost  with  confidence  predict 
that  such  an  introduction  into  his  parishes  was  a  pre- 
sage of  great  usefulness.  A  minister  has  no  right  to 
w;mton  away  the  support  of  his  family  ;  but,  having 
secured  that,  whatever  .sacrifices  he  may  make  with 
such  holy  motives  as  these,  will  be  abundantly  repaid ; 
probably  in  the  success  of  his  ministry,  certainly  in  his 
master's  approbation  and  the  peace  of  his  own  bosom. 
Those  sacrifices  of  what  may  be  strictly  his  due,  which 
a  nan-ow  and  worldly  man  may  refuse  to  make,  though 
he  entail  discord  and  feuds  on  his  parish,  will  be  tiifles 
to  the  mind  of  a  true  Cliristian  minister. 

"  I  hardly  think  it  likely  that  a  man  could  have  been 
received  in  a  more  friendly  manner  than  I  have  been. 
About  500  people  attended  at  Chobham,  and  300  at 
Bisley.  I  find  I  can  do  any  thing  with  them  while  I 
am  serious.  A  Baptist  preacher  had  been  somewhere 
in  the  neighborhood  before  I  came.  He  seems  to  have 
been  wild  and  eccentric,  and  to  have  planted  a  prejudice 
in  consequence  of  this  in  the  people's  minds,  who  appear 


48 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


to  have  had  no  other  notion  of  Methodism  than  that  it 
■vvas  eccentricity. 

"  While  I  am  grave  and  serious  they  will  allow  me 
to  say  or  do  any  thing.  For  instance;  a  few  .Sundays 
since  it  rained, so  prodigiously  hard  when  I  had  finished 
my  sermon  at  Bisley,  that  1  saw  it  vvas  impracticable 
for  any  body  to  leave  the  church.  I  then  told  the  peo- 
ple, that  as  it  was  likely  to  continue  for  some  time,  we 
had  better  employ  ourselves  as  well  as  we  could,  and  so 
I  would  take  up  the  subject  again.  I  did  so ;  and  they 
listened  to  me  readily  for  another  half-hour,  though  I 
had  preached  to  them  three-quarters  of  an  hour  before 
I  had  concluded.  All  this  they  bear,  and  think  it  no- 
thing strange  ;  but  one  wild  brother  with  one  eccentric 
sermon  would  do  me  more  mischief  than  1  should  be 
able  ia  many  months  to  cure." 

A  very  strong  instance  of  personal  attachment  to  him 
occurred  soon  after  he  took  Chobham.  A  stranger  was 
observed  to  attend  church  every  Sunday,  and  to  leave 
the  village  immediately  after  service  was  over.  Every 
new  face  there  was  a  phenomenon,  and  of  course  the 
appearance  of  this  man  led  to  inquiry.  He  was  found 
to  be  one  of  his  hearers  at  St.  John's — a  poor,  work- 
ing-man, whom  the  advantages  received  under  his  min- 
istry had  so  knit  to  his  pastor,  that  he  found  himself  re- 
paid for  a  weekly  journey  of  fifty  miles.  Mr.  C.  re- 
monstrated with  him  on  the  inexpediency  and  impro- 
priety of  thus  spending  his  Sabbath,  when  the  pure 
word  of  God  might  be  lieard  so  much  nearer  home. 

But  we  must  approach  the  closing  scene  of  this  great 
man's  life  and  labors. 

No  tDuches  need  to  be  added  to  the  affecting  pic'urc 
which  Mrs.  Cecil  has  drawn  of  his  gradual  descent  to 
the  grave.  I  will  only  subjoin  here  some  remarks  on 
his  VIEWS  and  feelings  with  respect  to  that  Qospel  of 
which  he  had  been  so  long  an  eminent  and  successful 
minister. 

His  VIEWS  of  Christianity  were  modified,  as  has  been 
seen  by  his  constitution  and  the  circumstances  of  his 
life.  His  dispensation  was  to  meet  a  particular  class  of 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


49 


hearers.  He  was  fitted  beyond  most  men,  to  assert  the 
reality,  dignity,  and  glory  of  religion — as  contrasted 
with  the  vanity,  meanness,  and  glare  of  the  world.  This 
subject  he  treated  like  a  master.  Men  of  the  world 
felt  that  they  were  in  the  presence  of  their  superior  — of 
one  who  unmasked  their  real  misery  to  themselves  and 
pursued  them  through  all  the  false  refuges  of  vain  and 
carnal  minds. 

While  this  was  the  principal  character  of  Mr.  Cecil's 
ministry  for  years,  at  that  place  for  which  he  seems  to 
have  been  specially  prepared  ;  yet  he  was  elsewhere, 
with  equal  wisdom,  leading  experienced  Christians  for- 
ward in  their  way  to  heaven  :  and,  latterly,  the  habit  of 
his  own  mind  and  the  whole  system  of  his  ministry 
were  manifestly  ripening  in  those  views  which  are  pe- 
culip.r  to  the  Gospel. 

No  man  had  a  more  just  view  of  his  own  ministry 
than  he  had ;  nor  could  any  one  more  highly  value  the 
excellence  which  he  saw  in  others,  though  it  was  of  a 
different  class  from  his  own.  "I  have  been  lately  se- 
lecting," he  said  to  me,  "  some  of  C — 's  letters  for  publi- 
cation. With  the  utmost  difficulty,  1  have  given  some 
little  variety.  He  begins  with  Jesus  Christ,  carries  him 
through,  and  closes  with  hiin.  If  a  broken  leg  or  arm 
turns  him  aside,  he  seems  impatient  to  dismiss  it  as  an 
intrusive  subject,  and  to  get  back  again  to  his  topic.  I 
feel  as  1  read  his  letters — '  Why,  you  said  this  in  the  last 
sentence!  What,  over  and  over  again!  What,  nothing 
else  !  No  variety  of  view  !  No  illustration  !'  And  yet,  I 
confess,  that,  when  I  have  walked  out  and  my  mind  has 
been  a  good  deal  exercised  on  his  letters,  I  have  caught 
a  sympathy — '  It  is  one  thing,  without  variety  or  relief; 
but'  this  one  thing  is  a  talisman  !' — I  have  raised  my 
head — I  have  trod  firmly — my  heart  has  expanded — I 
have  felt  wings !  Men  must  not  be  viewed  indiscrimi- 
nately. To  a  certain  degree  I  produce  effect  in  my 
way,  and  with  my  views.  The  utter  ruin  and  bank- 
ruptcy of  man  is  so  wrought  into  my  experience,  that  I 
handle  this  subject  naturally.  Other  men  may  use 
God's  more  direct  means  as  naturally  as  I  can  use  his 

E 


50 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIt. 


more  indirect  and  collateral  ones.  Ever  ;  man,  how- 
ever, must  ra'tlier  follow  than  lead  his  experience  ; 
though,  to  a  certain  degree,  if  ha  finds  his  habits  divert- 
ing him  from  Jesus  Christ  as  the  grand,  prominent,  only 
feature,  he  must  force  himself  to  choose  such  topics  as 
shall  lead  his  mind  to  him.  I  am  obliged  to  subject 
myself  to  this  discipline.  I  frequently  choose  subjec  s 
and  enter  into  my  plan,  before  I  discover  that  the  Sa- 
viour occupies  a  part  too  subordinate :  I  throw  them 
away,  and  take  up  others  which  point  more  directly 
and  naturally  to  him." 

In  his  last  illness,  he  spoke,  with  great  feeling  on  the 
same  subject :  "  That  Christianity  may  be  very  sincere, 
which  is  not  sublime.  Let  a  man  read  jMaclaurin's  se;-- 
mon  on  the  Cross  of  Christ,  and  enter  into  the  subject 
with  taste  and  relish,  what  beggary  is  the  world  to  him  ! 
The  subject  is  so  high  and  so  glorious,  that  a  man  must 
go  out  of  himself,,  as  it  were,  to  apprehend  it.  The 
apostle  had  such  a  view  when  he  said  I  count  all  things 
but  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jc 
sus  my  Lord.  I  remember  the  time,  even  after  1  became 
really  serious  in  religion,  when  I  could  not  understand 
what  St.  Paul  meant — not  by  setting  forth  the  glory  of 
Christ,  but  by  talking  of  it  in  such  hyperbolical  terms, 
and  always  dwelling  on  the  subject :  whatever  topic  he 
began  on,  I  saw  that  he  could  not  but  glide  into  the 
same  subject.  But  I  now  understand  why  he  did  so, 
and  wonder  no  more ;  for  there  is  no  other  subject, 
comparatively,  worthy  our  thoughts,  and  therefore  it  is 
that  advanced  Christians  dwell  on  litde  else.  I  am  ful- 
ly persuaded,  that  the  whole  world  becomes  vain  and 
empty  to  a  man.  in  proportion  as  he  enters  into  living 
views  of  Jesus  Christ." 

His  FEELINGS  On  religion,  as  they  respected  his  sr/h- 
mission  to  the  divine  will,  were  admirably  expressed  by 
himself : — "  We  are  servants,  and  we  must  not  choose 
our  station.  I  am  now  called  to  go  down  very  low, 
but  I  must  not  resist.  God  is  saying  to  me,  'You 
have  not  been  doing  my  work  in  my  way :  you  have 
been  too  hasty.    Now  sit  down,  and  be  content  to  be  a 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


61 


quiet  idler:  and  wait  (ill  I  give  you  leave  again  to  go  on 
in  your  labors.' " 

In  respect  to  his  pi- hsoval.  comfort,  he  had  said — "  I 
have  attained  satisfaction  as  to  my  state,  by  a  conscious- 
ness of  ciiangc  in  my  own  breast,  mixed  with  a  con- 
sciousness of  integrity. 

Two  evidences  ai'c  satisfactory  to  me: — 

1.  A  consciousness  of  approving  God's  plan  of  gov- 
ernment in  the  Gospel. 

2.  A  consciousness,  that,  in  trouble,  I  run  to  God  as 
a  child." 

These  evidences  Mr.  Cecil  illustrated  even  in  his 
diseased  moments  before  his  death.  On  that  afflicting 
dispensation  I  shall  make  no  remarks  of  my  own,  as  I 
think  nothing  can  be  added  to  what  my  friend,  his  suc- 
cessor, has  so  well  said  in  the  second  of  his  funeral  ser- 
mons, and  which  is  here  subjoined. 

'■During  the  whole  period  of  his  last  illness,  a  space 
of  nearly  three  years,  the  state  of  his  mind  fluctuated 
with  his  malady.  Every  one,  who  has  had  opportuni- 
ties of  observing  the  operation  of  palsy,  knows,  that, 
without  destroying,  or,  properly  speaking,  perverting, 
the  reasoning  powers,  it  agitates  and  enervates  them. 
Every  object  is  presented  through  a  discolored  medium. 
False  premises  are  assumed ;  and  the  mind  is  sometimes 
more  than  usually  export  in  drawing  inferences  accord- 
ingly. In  a  word,  the  whole  system  is  deranged  and 
shattered.  An  excessive  care  and  irritation  and  despond- 
ency are  produced  under  the  impression  of  which  the 
sufferer  acts  every  moment,  without  being  at  all  aware 
of  the  cause.  Ills  morl)id  anxiety  is,  besides,  fixed  on 
some  inconsiderable  or  ideal  matter,  which  he  magnifies 
and  distorts  ;  while  he  remains  incapable  of  attending  to 
concerns  of  superior  moment,  and  any  attempts  to  rec- 
tify his  misapprehensions,  quicken  the  irritation,  and  in- 
crease the  eflccts  of  the  disorder. 

"  Under  this  pec;uliar  visitation  it  pleased  God  that 
our  late  venerable  father  should  labor.  The  energy, 
and  decision,  and  grandeur  of  his  natural  powers, 
therefore,  gradually  gave  way,  and  a  morbid  feebleness 


52 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIt. 


succeeded.  Yet  even  in  this  afflicting  state,  witli  his 
body  on  one  side  almost  lifeless,  his  organs  of  speech  im- 
paired, and  his  judgment  weakcned,'the  spiritual  dispos- 
itions of  his  heart  displayed  themselves  in  a  remark-able 
manner.  He  appeared  great  in  the  ruins  of  nature ; 
and  his  eminently  religious  character  manifested  itself, 
to  the  honor  of  divine  grace,  in  a  manner  which  surpris- 
ed all  who  were  acquainted  with  the  ordinary  effects  of 
paralytic  complaints.  The  actings  of  hope  were,  of 
course,  impeded  ;  but  the  habit  of  grace  which  had  been 
forming  in  his  mind  for  thirty  or  forty  years  shi.'ne 
through  the  cloud.  At  such  a  period  there  was  no  room 
for  fresh  acquisitions.  The  real  character  of  the  man 
could  only  appear,  when  disease  allowed  it  to  appear 
at  all  according  to  the  grand  leading  habits  of  his  life. 
If  his  habits  had  been  ambitious,  or  sensual,  or  covetous, 
or  worldly,  these  tendencies,  if  any,  would  have  disi)lay- 
ed  themselves:  but  as  his  soul  had  been  long  establish- 
ed in  grace,  and  spiritual  religion  had  been  incorporated 
with  all  his  trains  of  sentiment  and  affection,  and  had 
become  like  a  second  nature,  the  holy  dispositions  of  his 
heart  acted  with  remarkable  o-onstancy  under  all  the 
variations  of  his  illness:  so  that  one  of  his  oldest  friends 
observed  to  me,  that  if  he  had  to  choose  the  portion  of 
his  life,  since  he  first  knew  him.  in  which  the  evidences 
of  a  state  of  salvation  were  most  decisive,  he  sh  >uld, 
without  a  moment's  hesitation,  select  the  period  of  li  s 
last  distressing  malady. 

"  Throughout  his  illness,  his  whole  mind,  instead  of 
being  fixed  on  some  mean  and  insignificant  concern,  was 
riveted  on  spiritual  objects.  Every  other  topic  w^as  so 
uninteresting  to  him,  and  even  burdensome,  that  he 
could  with  reluctance  allow  it  to  be  introduced.  The 
value  of  his  soul,  the  emptiness  of  the  world,  the  near- 
ness and  solemnity  of  death,  were  ever  on  his  lips.  11^3 
spent  his  whole  time  in  reading  the  Scripture,  and  one 
or  two  old  divines,  particularly  Archbishop  Leighton. 
All  he  said  and  did  was  as  a  man  on  the  brink  of  an 
eternal  state. 

"  His  humility,  also,  evidently  ripened  as  he  approach- 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


53 


ed  his  end.  He  was  willing  to  receive  advice  from 
every  quarter.  He  listened  witii  anxiety  to  any  hint 
that  was  offered  him.  His  view  of  his  own  misery  and 
helplessness  as  a  sinner,  and  of  tlie  necessity  of  being  en- 
tirely indebted  to  divine  grace,  and  being  saved  as  the 
greatest  monument  of  its  efficacy,  was  continually  on 
the  increase. 

•'  His  simplicity  and  fervor  in  speaking  of  the  Saviour, 
were  also  very  remarkable.  As  he  drew  nearer  to 
death,  his  one  topic  was — Jesus  Christ.  All  his  anxiety 
and  care  were  centi-ed  in  this  grand  point.  His  appre- 
hensions of  the  work  and  glory  of  Christ,  of  the  extent 
and  suitableness  of  his  salvation,  and  of  the  unspeakable 
importance  of  being  spiritually  united  to  him,  were  more 
distinct  and  simple,  if  possible,  than  at  any  period  of  his 
life.  He  spake  of  him  to  his  family,  with  the  feeling, 
and  interest,  and  seriousness  of  the  aged  and  dying  be- 
liever. 

"  His  faith,  also,  never  failed.  I  have  heard  him  with 
faltering  and  feeble  lips,  speak  of  the  great  foundations 
of  Christianity  with  the  fullest  confidence.  He  said,  he 
never  saw  so  clearly  the  truth  of  the  doctrines  which  he 
had  been  preaching,  as  since  his  illness.  His  view  of 
the  certainty  and  excellency  of  God's  promises  in  Christ 
was  unshaken. 

"The  interest,  likewise,  which  he  took  in  the  success 
of  the  Gospel,  was  prominent,  when  his  disease  at  all 
remitted.  His  own  people  lay  near  his  heart ;  and, 
when  a  providence  had  occurred  which  he  hoped 
would  promote  their  benefit,  he  expressed  himself  with 
old  Simeon,  '  Lord,  now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart 
in  peace.' 

"  The  principal  effect  of  his  distemper  was  in  throw- 
ing a  cloud  over  his  comfort ;  yet,  in  producing  this,  the 
spiritual  tendency  of  his  mind  appeared.  His  diseased 
depression  operated  indeed,  but  it  was  in  leading  him  to 
set  a  high  standard  of  holiness  to  bring  together  eleva- 
ted marks  of  regenerntion,  and  to  require  decisive  evi- 
dences of  a  spirit  of  faith  and  adoption.  The  acuteness 
of  his  judgment  then  argued  so  strongly  from  these  false 


54 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


premises,  that  he  necessarily  excluded  himself  almost 
entirely  from  the  consolation  of  hope.  If  I  may  be  al- 
lowed a  theological  term — liie  objective  acts  of  faith ; 
those  that  related  to  the  grand  objects  proposed  in  the 
Scriptures  on  the  testimony  of  God,  such  as  the  work 
of  redemption,  the  person  of  Christ,  and  the  virtue  of  his 
blood,  remained  the  same;  nay,  were  ripened  and 
strengthened  as  his  dissolution  approached  :  but  the  sub- 
jective acts  of  faith,  those  which  respected  his  own  in- 
terest in  these  blessings,  and  which  gave  life  to  the  exer- 
cises of  hope,  rose  and  sunk  with  his  disease.  He  was 
precisely  like  a  man  oppressed  by  a  heavy  weight :  as 
the  load  was  lightened,  he  began  to  move  and  exert 
himself  in  his  natural  manner :  when  the  burden  was 
increased,  he  sunk  down  again  under  tiie  oppression. 

"  About  a  year  before  his  death,  when  his  powers  of 
mind  had  for  a  long  time  been  debilitated,  but  still  re- 
tained some  remnants  of  their  former  vigor,  his  religious 
feelings  were  at  times  truly  desirable.  His  intellectual 
powers  were  indeed  too  far  weakened  for  joy  ;  but  there 
was  a  resignation,  a  tranquility,  a  ripeness  of  grace,  a 
calm  and  holy  repose  on  the  bosom  of  the  Saviour,  that 
quite  alarmed,  if  1  may  so  speak,  his  anxious  fami!j%  un- 
der tlie  impression  that  there  appeared  nothing  left  for 
grace  to  do,  and  that  he  would  soon  be  removed  from 
them,  as,  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  its  season.  Even 
when  his  disease  had  made  still  further  progress,  as  of- 
ten as  the  slightest  alleviation  was  afforded  him,  his 
judgment  became  more  distinct,  his  morbid  depression 
lessened,  and  he  was  moderately  composed.  It  was 
only  a  few  weeks  before  his  dissolution  that  such  an  in- 
terval was  vouchsafed  to  him.  He  then  spake  with 
great  feeling  from  the  Scriptures,  in  family  worship,  for 
about  half  an  hour  ;  and  dwelt  on  the  love,  and  grace, 
and  power  of  Christ  with  particular  composure  of  mind. 
I  had  the  happiness  of  visiting  him  at  this  season.  He 
was  so  much  relieved  from  his  disease,  as  to  enter  with 
me  on  general  topics  relating  to  religion,  and  to  give  me 
some  excellent  directions  as  to  my  conduct  as  a  minister. 
In  reply  to  various  questions  which  I  put  to  him,  he 


CHAUACTKR  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


56 


spake  to  me  to  the  following  purport :  '  I  know  myself 
to  be  a  wretched,  worthless,  sinner,'  (tlie  seriousness  and 
feeling  with  which  he  spake  I  shall  never  forget,)  '  hav- 
ing nothing  in  myself  but  poverty  and  sin.  I  know  Je- 
sus Christ  to  be  a  glorious  and  almighty  Saviour.  ]  see 
the  full  efficacy  of  his  atonement  and  grace  ;  and  I  cast 
myself  entirely  on  him,  and  wait  at  his  footstool.  I  am 
aware  that  my  diseased  and  broken  mind  makes  me  in- 
capable of  receiving  consolation ;  but  I  submit  myself 
wholly  to  the  merciful  and  wise  dispensations  of  God.' 

"  One  or  two  other  interesting  testimonies  of  the  spirit- 
ual and  devoted  state  of  his  heart  may  be  here  mention- 
ed. A  short  time  before  his  decease,  he  requested  one 
of  his  family  to  write  down  for  him  in  a  book  the  fol- 
lowing sentence;  '"None  but  Christ,  none  but  Christ," 
said  Lambert  dying  at  a  stake:  the  same,  in  dyin^  cir- 
cumstances, with  his  whole  heart,  saith  Richard  Cecil.' 
The  name  was  signed  by  himself,  with  his  left  hand  in 
a  manner  hardly  legible  through  infirmity." 

Such  was  Mr.  Cecil.  I  sincerely  regret  that  some 
masterly  observer  did  not  both  enjoy  and  improve  op- 
portunities of  delineating  a  more  perfect  picture  of  his 
great  mind.  I  have,  however,  faithfully  detailed  the 
impressions  which  his  character  made  on  me,  during  a 
long  course  of  affectionate  admiration  of  him  :  nor  have 
I  shrunk  from  intermingling  such  remarks,  as  every  faith- 
ful observer  must  find  occasion  to  make  while  he  is 
watching  the  unfoldings  of  the  best  and  greatest  of  men. 

Christian  Parents,  and  particular  christian  moth- 
ers, may  gather  from  the  history  and  character  of  our 
departed  friend  every  possible  encourngement  to  the  un- 
wearied care  of  their  children.  While  St.  Austin, 
Bishop  Hall,  Richard  Hooker,  John  Newton,  Richard 
Cecil,  and  many  other  great  and  eminent  servants  of 
Christ,  have  left  on  record  their  grateful  acknowledg- 
ments to  their  pious  mothers,  as  the  instruments,  under 
the  grace  and  blessing  of  God,  of  winning  them  to  him- 
self, let  no  woman  of  faith  and  prayer  despair  respect- 
ing even  her  most  untoward  child. 

Mr.  Cecil's  mere  admirers  should  feel  what  a  weight 


56 


CHARACTER  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


of  responsibility  his  ministry  and  his  character  have  laid 
them  under.  They  gave  him  the  ear,  but  he  labored 
for  the  heart.  They  were  pleased  with  the  man,  but 
he  prayed  that  they  might  become  displeased  with 
themselves.  They  would  aid  him  in  his  schemes,  but 
he  was  anxious  that  they  should  serve  his  Master.  How 
soon  must  they  meet  him  at  that  judgment-seat  before 
which  all  must  appear,  to  receive  according  to  what 
they  have  done  in  the  body  whether  good  or  evil ! 

His  SINCERE  FRIENDS  are  called  to  imitate  his  example 
— to  follow  him  as  he  followed  Christ — to  live  above 
this  vain  world — to  sacrifice  every  thing  to  the  honor  of 
Christ  and  the  interests  of  eternity — to  bear  up  under 
pain  and  weariness  and  anxiety,  leaning  on  Almighty 
strength  ;  til!  they  join  him  in  that  world  where  weak- 
ness shall  be  felt  no  more  ! 

JOSIAH  PRATT. 


REMAINS 

OF  THE 

REV.  RICHARD  CECIL,  M.  A. 


REMARKS  MADE  BY  MR.  CECIL,  CHIEFLY  IN  CON- 
VERSATION WITH  THE  EDITOR,  OR  IN  DISCUS- 
SIONS WHEN  HE  WAS  PRESENT. 

"  Multa  ab  co  pmdenter  disputata,  multa  etiani  breviter  et  commode  dic- 
ta memoi  ia;  niandabam,  fierique  sludebam  ejus  prudentia  doctior."— 
Cic.  de  Amicit.  i. 

ON  THE  CHRISTIAN  LIFE  AND  CONFLICT, 

The  direct  cause  of  a  Christian's  spiritual  life,  is 
union  witli  Clirist.  All  attention  to  tlie  mere  circum- 
stantials of  religion,  lias  a  tendency  to  draw  the  soul 
aAvay  from  this  union.  Few  men,  except  ministers,  are 
called,  by  the  nature  of  their  station,  to  enter  much  into 
these  ciixumstantials  : — such,  for  instance,  as  the  evi- 
dences of  the  truth  of  religion.  Ministers  feel  tliis 
deadening  effect  of  any  considerable  or  continued  atten- 
tion to  externals :  much  more  must  private  Clu-istians. 
Tlie  liead  may  be  strengthened,  till  the  heart  is  starved. 
Some  private  Christians,  however,  may  be  called  on, 
by  the  nature  of  those  circles  in  which  they  move,  to  be 
qualiLied  to  meet  and  refute  the  objections  which  may 
be  urged  against  religion.    Such  men  as  well  as  min- 


56 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIU 


isters,  while  they  are  furnishing  themselves  for  tlils 
pui-pose,  must  acquiesce  in  the  work  wliich  God  ap- 
points for  them,  with  prayer  and  watchfulness.  If  they 
cannot  always  hve  and  abide  close  to  the  ark,  and  the 
pot  of  manna,  and  the  cherubim,  and  the  mercy  seat  ; 
yet  they  are  drawing  the  water  and  gathering  the  wood 
necessary  for  the  service  of  the  camp.  But  let  their 
hearts  still  turn  toward  the  place  where  the  Glory  re- 
sideth. 


The  Christian's  fellowship  with  God  is  rather  a  habit, 
than  a  raptm-e.  He  is  a  pilgrim,  who  has  the  habit  of 
looking  forward  to  the  liglit  before  him  :  he  has  the  habit 
of  not  looking  back  ;  he  has  the  habit  of  walking  stea- 
dily in  the  way,  whatever  be  the  weather,  and  whatever 
the  road.  These  are  his  habits  :  and  the  Lord  of  the 
Way  is  his  Guide,  Protector,  Friend,  and  Felicity. 


As  the  Christian's  exigencies  arise,  he  has  a  spiritual 
habit  of  turning  to  God,  and  saying,  with  the  Church, 
"  Tell  me,  O  thou  whom  my  soul  loveth,  where  thou 
feedest,  where  thou  makest  thy  flocks  to  rest  at  noon. 
I  have  tried  to  find  rest  elsewhere.  I  have  fled  to  shel- 
ters, which  held  out  great  promise  of  repose  ;  but  I 
have  now  long  since  learned  to  turn  unto  thee  :  '  Tell 
me,  0  thou  whom  my  soul  loveth,  where  thou  feedest, 
ivhere  thou  makest  thy  flocks  to  rest  at  noon.'  " 


The  Christian  A^ill  look  back,  throughout  eternity, 
with  interest  and  dehght,  on  the  steps  and  means  of  his 
conversion.    "  My  father  told  me  this  !    My  mother 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


.57 


told  me  that !  Such  an  event  was  sanctified  to  me  ! 
In  such  a  place,  God  visited  my  soul !  »  These  recol- 
lections will  never  grow  dull  and  wearisome. 

A  VOLUME  might  be  written  on  the  various  methods 
which  God  has  taken,  in  providence,  to  lead  men  first 
to  think  of  liini. 


The  liistory  of  a  man's  own  fife  is,  to  himself,  the 
most  interesting  history  in  the  world,  next  to  that  of  the 
Scriptures.  Every  man  is  aii  original  and  solitary 
character.  None  can  either  understand  or  feel  the 
book  of  his  own  life  like  himself.  Tlie  lives  of  other 
men  are  to  him  dry  and  vapid,  when  set  beside  Ids  own. 
He  enters  very  httle  into  the  spirit  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, who  does  not  see  Goil  e;illiiig  on  him  to  turn  over 
the  pages  of  tliis  history  wlicn  !ie  says  to  the  Jew,  Thou 
shult  remember  all  the  waij  which  the  Lord  thy 
God  led  thee  these  forty  years.  He  sees  God  teach- 
ing the  Jew  to  look  at  the  records  of  his  deliverance  from 
tlie  Red  Sea,  of  the  manna  showered  down  on  him  from 
heaven,  and  of  tlie  Amalekites  put  to  flight  before  him. 
Tiiere  are  stich  grand  events  in  the  life  and  experience 
of  every  Christian,  it  may  be  well  for  liim  to  review 
them  often.  I  have,  in  some  cases,  vowed  before  God, 
to  appropi-iate  yearly  remembrances  of  some  of  tlie  sig- 
nal turns  of  my  life.  Having  made  the  vow,  I  hold  it 
as  obligatory  :  but  I  would  advise  others  to  greater 
circumspection  ;  as  they  may  bring  a  sailing  yoke  on 
themselves,  which  God  designed  not  to  put  on  them. 


True  grace  is  a  grov\ing  principle.    The  Christian 


58 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


grows  in  discernment  :  a  cliild  may  pluy  with  a  ser- 
pent ;  but  the  man  gets  as  far  from  it  as  he  can  :  a  child 
may  taste  poison  ;  but  the  man  will  not  suifer  a  speck 
of  poison  near  him.  He  grows  in  humility  :  the  blade 
shoots  up  boldly,  and  the  young  ear  keeps 'erect  with 
confidence  :  but  the  full  corn  in  the  ear  inclines  itself 
toward  the  earlli,  not  because  it  is  feebler,  but  because 
it  is  matm-ed.  He  grows  in  strength  :  the  new  wine 
ferments  and  frets  ;  but  the  old  wine  acquires  a  body 
and  a  firmness. 


Tenderness  of  conscience  is  always  to  be  distin- 
guished from  scrupulousness.  Tlie  conscience  cannot 
be  kept  too  sensible  and  tender  :  but  scrupulousness 
arises  from  bodily  or  mental  infirmity,  and  discovers  it- 
self in  a  multitude  of  ridic  ulous,  and  superstitious,  and 
painful  feelings. 

The  head  is  dull,  in  discerning  the  value  of  God's 
expedients  ;  and  the  heart  cold,  sluggish,  and  reluct- 
ant, in  submiUing  to  them :  but  the  head  is  lively,  in 
the  invention  of  its  own  expedients  ;  and  the  heart  eager 
and  sanguine,  in  pursuit  of  them.  No  wonder,  then, 
that  God  subjects  both  the  head  and  the  heart  to  a 
com-se  of  continual  correction. 


Every  man  will  have  his  own  criterion  in  forming 
his  judgment  of  others.  I  depend  very  much  on  the  ef- 
fect of  aflliction.  I  consider  how  a  man  comes  out  of 
the  fui-nace :  gold  will  lie  for  a  month  in  the  fui  uace 
without  losing  a  grain.    And  while  under  trial,  a  child 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


59 


has  a  habit  of  turning  to  his  father :  he  is  not  like  a 
penitent,  who  has  been  whipped  into  this  state  :  it  is 
natural  to  him.  It  is  dark,  and  the  child  has  no  where 
to  run,  but  to  his  father. 


Defilement  is  inseparable  from  the  world.  A 
man  can  no  where  rest  his  foot  on  it  without  sinking. 
A  strong  principle  of  assimilation  combines  the  world 
and  the  heart  together.  There  are,  especially,  cer- 
tain occasions,  when  the  current  hurries  a  man  away, 
and  he  has  lost  the  religious  government  of  himself. 
Wiien  the  pilot  finds,  on  making  the  port  of  Messina, 
that  tlie  ship  will  not  obey  the  iiehn,  he  knows  that  she 
is  got  wtliin  the  influence  of  that  attraction,  wliich  will 
bury  her  iti  the  whirlpool.  We  are  to  avoid  the  dan- 
ger, rather  than  to  oppose  it.  This  is  a  great  doctrine 
of  Scripture.  An  active  force  against  the  world  is  not 
so  much  inculcated,  as  a  retreating,  declining  spirit. 
Keep  thyself  unspotted  frojn  the  world. 

There  are  seasons  when  a  Christian's  distinguished 
character  is  hidden  from  man.  A  Cliristian  merchant 
on  'Change  is  not  called  to  show  any  difference  in  his 
mere  exterior  carriage  from  another  merchant.  He 
gives  a  reasonable  answer  if  he  is  asked  a  question.  He 
does  not  fanatically  intrude  religion  into  every  sentence 
he  utters.  He  does  not  suppose  his  religion  to  be  in- 
consistent with  the  common  interchange  of  civilities. 
He  is  affable  and  courteous.  He  can  ask  the  news  of 
the  day,  and  take  up  any  public  topic  of  conversation. 
But  is  he,  therefore,  not  difl'erent  from  other  men  ?  He 


60 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


is  like  another  merchant  in  the  mere  exterior  circum- 
stance, which  is  least  in  God's  regard ; — ^but,  in  his 
taste  ! — Jiis  views  ! — liis  science  ! — his  hopes  ! — his  hap- 
piness !  he  is  as  different  from  those  aromid  him  as 
light  is  from  darkness.  He  ivaits  for  the  coming  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  who  never  passes  perhaps 
through  the  thoughts  of  those  he  talks  with,  but  to  be 
neglected  and  despised  ! 

The  Christian  is  called  to  be  Uke  Abraham,  in  con- 
duct ;  like  Paul,  in  labors ;  and  Uke  John,  in  spii  it 
Though,  as  a  man  of  faith,  he  goes  forth  not  knowing 
whither,  and  his  principle  is  hidden  from  the  world,  yet 
he  will  oblige  the  woild  to  acknowledge  :  "  His  views, 
it  is  true,  we  do  not  miderstand.  His  principles  and 
general  conduct  are  a  mystery  to  us.  But  a  more  up- 
right, noble,  generous,  disinterested,  peaceable,  and  be- 
nevolent man,  we  know  not  where  to  find."  Tlie  world 
may  even  count  him  a  madman  ;  and  false  bretliren 
may  vilify  his  character,  and  calumniate  his  motives : 
yet  he  will  bear  down  evil,  by  repaying  good  ;  and  will 
silence  Ids  enemies,  by  the  abundance  of  his  labors. 
He  may  be  shut  out  from  the  world — cast  into  prison — 
banished  into  obscurity — no  eye  to  observe  him,  no  hand 
to  help  him — but  it  is  enough  for  him,  if  liis  Sa\  ioiir 
will  speak  to  him  and  smile  on  him. 

Christians  are  too  little  aware  what  their  religion 
reciuu  es  from  them,  \v\\\\  regard  to  their  wishes.  When 
we  wish  things  to  be  otiien^ise  tlian  they  are,  we  lose 
sight  of  the  great  practical  parts  of  the  Ufe  of  godUuess. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


Gl 


We  wish,  and  wish — Avhen,  if  we  have  done  all  that  lies 
on  us,  we  should  fall  quietly  into  the  hands  of  God. 
Such  wishing  cuts  the  very  sinews  of  our  privileges  and 
consolations.  You  are  leaving  me  for  a  time  ;  and  you 
say  you  wish  you  could  leave  me  better,  or  leave  me 
with  some  assistance  :  but,  if  it  is  right  for  you  to  go,  it 
is  right  for  me  to  meet  what  lies  on  me,  without  a  wish 
that  I  had  less  to  meet,  or  were  better  able  to  meet  it. 


I  COULD  vmte  down  twenty  cases,  wherein  I  wished 
God  had  done  otherwise  than  he  did  ;  but  which  I  now 
see,  had  I  had  my  own  will,  would  have  led  (o  extensive 
mischief.  The  hfe  of  a  Christian  is  a  life  of  paradoxes. 
He  must  lay  hold  on  God :  he  must  follow  hard  after 
him :  he  must  determine  not  to  let  him  go.  And  yet 
he  must  learn  to  let  God  alone.  Quietness  before  God 
is  one  of  the  most  difficult  of  all  Christian  graces — to 
sit  where  he  places  us  ;  to  be  what  he  would  have  us  to 
be,  and  this  as  long  as  he  pleases.  We  are  like  a 
player  at  bowls  ;  if  he  has  given  his  bowl  too  little  bias, 
he  cries,  "  Flee  :"  if  he  has  given  it  too  much,  he  cries, 
"Hub ;"  you  see  him  lifting  his  leg,  and  bending  his  body 
in  conformity  to  the  motion  he  would  impart  to  the 
bowl.  Thus  I  have  felt  with  regard  to  my  dispensa- 
tions :  I  would  urge  them  or  restrain  them  :  I  would  as- 
similate them  to  the  habit  of  my  mind.  But  I  have 
smarted  for  this  under  severe  visitations.  It  may  seem 
a  harsh,  but  it  is  a  wise  and  gracious  dispensation,  to- 
ward a  man,  when,  the  instant  he  stretches  out  his  hand 
to  order  his  affairs,  God  forces  him  to  withdraw  it. 
Concerning  what  is  morally  good  or  evil,  we  are  suffi- 


62 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


ciently  informed  for  our  dii^ction  ;  but  concerning 
what  is  naturally  good  or  evil,  we  are  ignorance  itself. 
Restlessness  and  self-will  are  opposed  to  our  duty  in 
these  cases. 


Schooling  the  heart  is  the  grand  means  of  perso- 
nal religion.  To  bring  motives  under  faithful  examina- 
tion, is  a  high  state  of  religious  character  :  with  regard 
to  tlie  depravity  of  the  heart  we  live  daily  in  the  disbelief 
of  our  own  creed.  We  indulge  thoughts  and  feelings, 
which  are  founded  upon  the  presumption  that  all  around 
us  are  imperfect  and  coiTupted,  but  that  we  are  ex- 
empted. The  self-will  and  ambition  and  passion  of 
pub  ic  characters  in  tlie  religious  world,  all  arise  from 
this  sort  of  practical  infidelity.  And  though  its  ellects 
are  so  manifest  in  tliese  men,  because  they  are  leaders 
of  parlies,  and  are  set  upon  a  pinnacle  so  that  all  who 
are  without  the  influence  of  their  vortex  can  see  them  ; 
yet  every  man's  own  breast  has  an  infallible,  dogmatiz- 
ing, excommunicating,  and  anathematizing  spirit  work- 
ing within. 

Acting  from  the  occasion,  without  recollection  and 
inquiry,  is  the  death  of  personal  religion.  It  will  not 
suffice  merely  to  retire  to  the  study  or  the  closet.  The 
mind  is  sometimes,  in  private,  most  iirdently  pursuing 
its  particular  object ;  and,  as  it  then  acts  from  the  oc- 
casion, nothing  is  further  from  it  than  recoUectedness. 
I  have  for  weeks  together,  in  pursuit  of  some  sciieme 
acted  so  entirely  from  the  occasion,  that,  when  I  have  at 
length  called  myself  to  account,  I  have  seemed  like  one 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


63 


awakened  from  a  dream.  "Am  I  the  man  who  could 
tliink  and  speak  so  and  so?  Am  I  the  man  who  could 
tVol  such  a  disposition,  or  discover  such  conduct?" 
Tlic  faschiation  and  enchantment  of  the  occasion  is 
\  aiiished  ;  and  I  stand  like  David  in  similar  circum- 
stances before  Nathan.  Such  cases  in  experience  are, 
in  truth,  a  moral  intoxication  ;  and  the  man  is  only  then 
sober,  when  he  begins  to  school  his  heart. 

The  servant  of  God  has  not  only  natural  sensibilities, 
by  which  he  feels,  in  common  with  other  men,  the  sor- 
rows of  hfe  ;  but  he  has  moral  sensibilities,  which  are 
pecuhar  to  his  character.  When  David  was  driven 
from  his  kingdom,  he  not  only  felt  depressed  as  an  ex- 
ile and  wanderer ;  but  he  would  recollect  his  own  sin 
as  punished  in  the  affliction.  Eli  had  not  only  to  suffer 
the  pangs  of  a  father  in  the  loss.of  his  sons ;  but  he  would 
recal  in  the  bitterness  of  his  spirit,  his  own  mismanage- 
ment, in  bringing  up  these  sons.  St.  Paul  had  not  only 
to  endure  the  thorn  in  the  flesh  ;  but  he  would  feel  that 
he  can-ied  about  him  propensities  tof  self-exaltation, 
which  rendered  that  thorn  necessary  and  salutary. 

Dangerous  predicameists  are  the  brinks  of  tempta- 
tions. A  man  often  gives  evidence  to  others  that  he  is 
giddy,  though  he  is  not  aware  of  it  perhaps  himself. 
Whoever  has  been  in  danger  himself  will  guess  very 
shrewdly  concerning  the  dangerous  state  of  such  a  man. 

A  Jidughty  spirit  is  a  symptom  of  extreme  danger — 
A  haughty  sjjirif  goeth  before  a  fall. 

Fresumptnom  carelessness  indicates  danger. 


64 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


"Who  fears?"  This  is  to  be  feared,  that  you  feel 
no  cause  of  fear.  Such  was  Peter's  state  :  Though  all 
■men  forsake  thee,  yet  will  not  I. 

Venturing  on  the  borders  of  clanger  is  much  akin 
to  this.  A  man  goes  on  pretty  well  till  he  ventui-es 
within  the  atmosphere  of  danger  :  but  the  atmosphere 
of  danger  infatuates  him.  The  ship  is  got  within  the 
influence  of  the  vortex,  and  will  not  obey  the  helm. 
David  was  sitting  in  this  atmosphere  on  the  house-top, 
and  was  ensnared  and  fell. 

An  accession  'of  wealth  is  a  dangerous  predicament 
for  a  man  At  first  he  is  stunned,  if  the  accession  be 
sudden  :  he  is  very  humble  and  xtry  grateful.  Tlien 
he  begins  to  speak  a  little  louder,  people  think  liiin 
more  sensible,  and  soon  he  thinks  himself  so. 

A  man  is  in  imminent  danger  when,  m  suspected 
circumstances,  he  is  disposed  to  equivocate,  as  Abra- 
ham did  with  Pharaoh,  and  Isaac  \vith  Abimelecb. 

Stupidity  of  conscience  under  chastisement — an  ad- 
vancement to  power,  when  a  man  begins  to  relish  such 
power — popularity — self-indulgence — a  disposition  to 
gad  about,  like  Dinah — all  these  are  symptoms  of  spir- 
itual danger. 

A  CHANGE  OF  CIRCUMSTANCES  in  our  Condition  of  life 
is  a  critical  period.  No  man  who  has  not  passed 
through  such  a  change,  can  form  any  adequate  notion  of 
its  effects  upon  the  mind.  Wlien  money  comes  into 
the  pocket  of  a  poor  man  in  small  sums,  it  goes  out  as 
it  came  in,  and  more  follows  it  in  the  same  way ;  and 
with  a  certain  freedom  and  indifference,  it  is  applied  to 
its  proper  uses  :  but  when  he  begins  to  receive  round 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


66 


sums,  tliat  may  yield  him  an  intei-est,  and  when  this  in- 
terest comes  to  be  added  to  his  principal,  and  the  sweets 
of  augmentation  to  creep  over  him,  it  is  quite  a  new 
w  orld  to  him.  In  a  rise  of  circumstances,  too,  the  man 
becomes,  in  his  own  opinion,  a  wiser  man,  a  greater 
man  ;  and  pride  of  station  crosses  him  in  his  way.  Nor 
is  the  contrary  change  less  dangerous.  Poverty  has 
its  trials.  That  is  a  fine  trait  in  the  Pilgrim's  Progress, 
that  Christian  stumbled  in  going  down  the  Hill  into  the 
Valley  of  Humiliation. 

A  SOUND  head,  a-simple  heart,  and  a  spii'it  dependent 
on  Christ,  will  sufHce  to  conduct  us  in  every  variety  of 
circumstances. 

I  CANNOT  look  through  my  past  life  \\ithout  trem- 
bling. A  variation  in  my  circumstances  has  been  at- 
tended with  -dangers  and  difficulties,  little  of  which  I 
saw  at  the  time  compared  with  what  reflection  has  since 
shewn  me,  but  which  in  the  review  of  them  make  me 
shudder,  and  ought  to  fill  me  with  gratitude.  He,  who 
views  this  subject  aright,  will  put  up  particular  prayer 
against  sudden  attacks. 

God  will  have  the  Christian  thoroughly  humbled  and 
dependent.  Strong  minds  think  perhaps  sometime, 
that  they  can  effect  great  things  in  experience  by  keep- 
ing themselves  girt  up,  by  the  recurrence  of  habit,  by 
vigorous  exertion.  This  is  their  unquestionable  duty. 
But  God  often  strips  them,  lest  they  should  grow  confi- 
dent. He  lays  them  bare — He  makes  them  feel  poor, 
dark,  impotent.  He  seems  to  say,  "  Strive  with  all 
F  2 


66 


REMAINS  OK  MR.  CECIL. 


your  vigor,  but  yet  I  am  he  that  worketh  all  in  all." 

There  is  no  calling  or  profession,  however  ensnaring 
in  many  respects  to  a  Christian  mind,  provided  it  be  not 
in  its-elf  simply  imlawful,  wherein  God  has  not  fre- 
quently raised  up  faithful  witnesses,  who  have  stood 
forth  for  examples  to  others,  in  hke  situations,  of  the 
practicability  of  uniting  great  eminence  in  the  Christian 
hfe  with  the  discharge  cf  the  duties  of  their  profession, 
however  diliicult. 

Fear  lias  the  most  steady  effect  on  the  constitutional 
temperament  of  some  Chiistians,  to  keep  them  in  their 
comse.  A  strong  sease  of  duty  fixes  on  the  minds  ot 
others,  and  is  llie  prtvaihng  principle  of  conduct,  with- 
out any  dn  ect  reterence  to  consequences.  On  minds  of 
a  slu'oboni,  refractory,  and  self-willed  temper,  fear  and 
duty  have  in  general  little  eiiect :  they  brave  fear,  and 
a  mere  sense  of  duty  is  a  cold  and  lif  eless  principle  ; 
but  GRATITUDE,  Under  a  strong  and  subduing  sense  of 
niercies,  melts  them  into  obedience. 

There  is  a  lai-ge  class,  who  would  confound  nature 
and  grace.  These  are  chiefly  women.  They  sit  at 
liome,  nursing  tliemselves  over  a  fire,  and  then  trace  up 
the  natural  effects  of  solitude  and  want  of  air  and  ex- 
ercise into  spiritual  desertion.  There  is  more  pride  in 
this  than  they  are  aware  of.  They  are  unwilling  to  al- 
low so  simple  and  natural  a  cause  of  their  feelings,  and 
v\  ish  to  find  something  in  the  thing  more  sublime. 


THERE^are  so  many  things  to  lower  a  man's  topsails  — 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL,  (57 

lie  is  such  a  dependent,  creature — he  is  to  pay  such 
court  to  his  stomach,  his  food,  his  sleeji,  his  exercise — 
that,  in  truth,  a  hero  is  an  idle  \vord.  Man  seems  form- 
ed to  be  a  hero  in  suffering; — not  a  liero  in  action.  Men 
err  in  notliing  more  than  in  their  estimate  which  tliey 
make  of  Imman  labor.  The  hero  of  the  world  is  the 
man  that  makes  a  bustle — the  man  that  makes  the  road 
smoke  under  his  chaise-and-four — the  man  that  raises  a 
dust  about  him — the  man  that  manages  or  devastates 
empires  !  But  what  is  the  real  labor  of  this  man — com- 
pared with  that  of  a  silent  sufferer  ?  He  lives  on  his 
projects.  He  encounters,  perhaps,  rough  roads— in- 
commodious inns — bad  food — storms  and  perils — weary 
days  and  sleepless  nights  : — but  what  are  these  ! — his 
project — ^liis  point — the  thing  that  has  laid  hold  on  his 
heart  —  glory  —  a  name  —  consequence  —  pleasm-e  — 
wealth — these  render  the  man  callous  to  the  pains  and 
efforts  of  the  body  !  I  have  been  in  both  states,  and 
therefore  understand  them  ;  and  I  know  that  men  form 
this  false  estimate.  Besides — there  is  something  in  bus- 
tle, and  stir,  and  activity,  that  supports  itself.  At  one 
period,  I  preached  and  read  five  times  on  a  Sunday, 
and  rode  sixteen  miles.  But  what  did  it  cost  me  ?  No- 
tliing !  Yet  most  men  would  have  looked  on  while  I 
was  rattling  from  village  to  village,  with  all  the  dogs 
barking  at  my  heels,  and  would  have  called  me  a  hero  : 
whereas,  if  they  were  to  look  at  me  now,  they  would 
call  me  an  idle,  lounging  fellow.  "  He  makes  a  sermon 
on  the  Saturday — he  gets  intoliis  study — he  walks  from 
eiiil  to  end — he  scribbles  on  a  scrap  of  paper — he 
throws  it  away  and  scribbles  on  another — he  takes  snuff 
— lie  sits  down- -scribbles  again — walks  about."  The 


68  REMAINS  OF  MW.  CECIL, 

man  cannot,  see  that  here  is  an  exhaustion  of  the  spirit, 
which,  at  night,  will  leave  me  worn  to  the  extremity  of 
endurance.  He  cannot  see  the  numberless  efforts  of 
mind,  which  are  crossed  and  stifled,  and  recoil  on  the 
spirits  ;  hke  the  fruitless  efforts  of  a  traveller  to  get  lirm 
footing  among  the  ashes  on  the  steep  sides  of  3Iount 
Etna.* 

Elijah  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  what  we  call 
a  GREAT  SPIRIT  :  jet  we  never  find  him  rising  against 
the  humiliating  methods  wliich  God  was  sometimes 
pleased  to  take  with  him  ;  w  hether  he  is  to  depend  for 
his  daily  food  on  the  ravens,  or  is  to  be  nourished  by  the 
slender  pittance  of  a  perisliing  widow.  Pride  Avould 
choose  for  us  such  means  of  provision,  as  have  some  ap- 
pearance of  our  own  agency  in  them  ;  and  stout-heart- 
edness  would  lead  us  to  refuse  tilings,  if  we  cannot  have 
them  in  our  own  way. 

The  blessed  man  is  he,  who  is  under  education  in 
God's  school ;  where  he  endures  chastisement,  and  by 
chastisement  is  instructed.  The  foohsh  creature  is  be- 
witched, sometimes  with  the  enchantments  and  sorceries 
of  hfe.  He  begins  to  lose  the  lively  sense  of  that  some- 
thing, which  is  superior  to  the  glory  of  the  world.  His 
grovelling  soul  begins  to  say,  "  Is  not  this  tine  ?  Is 
not  that  charming  ?  Is  not  that  noble  house  worth  a 
wish?  Is  not  that  equipage  worth  a  sigh?"  He  must 
go  to  the  word  of  God  to  know  what  a  thing  is  worth. 
He  must  be  taught  there  to  caU  things  by  tiieir  proper 


•  See  the  Advenlu.cr,  No.  cxxvii.   J.  P. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


69 


names.  If  lie  liave  lost  this  liabit,  when  his  heart  puts 
the  questions  he  will  answer  thena  hke  a  fool ;  as  I  have 
done  a  thousand  times.  He  will  forget  that  God  puts 
his  children  into  possession  of  these  things,  as  mere 
stewards ;  and  that  the  possession  of  them  increases 
their  responsibility.  He  will  sit  down  and  plan,  and 
scheme  to  obtain  possession  of  things,  which  he  for- 
gets are  to  be  burnt  and  destroyed.  But  God  dasiies 
the  fond  scheme  in  pieces.  He  disappoints  the  project. 
And,  with  the  chastisement  he  sends  nistruction  ;  for  he 
knows  that  the  silly  creature  if  left  to  himself,  would 
begin,  like  the  spidei  whose  web  has  been  swept  away, 
to  spin  again.  And  then  the  man  who  sees  that  Job  is 
blessed — not,  when  God  gives  him  sons  and  daughters, 
and  flocks  and  herds,  and  power,  and  honor  ;  but  when 
God  takes  all  these  away — not  when  the  schemes  of 
liis  carnal  heart  are  indulged  ;  but  Avhen  tliey  are  cross- 
ed and  disappointed.  A  stubbori*  and  rebellious  mind 
in  a  Christian,  nuist  be  kept  low  by  dark  and  trying 
dispensations.  Tiie  language  of  God,  in  his  provi- 
dence, to  such  an  one,  is  generally  of  this  kind  :  "  I 
will  not  wholly  hide  myself.  I  will  be  seen  by  thee. 
But  thou  shalt  never  meet  me,  except  in  a  dark  night 
and  in  a  storm."  Ministers  of  sucli  a  natural  spirit  are 
often  fitted  for  eminent  usefulness  by  these  means. 

The  Christian,  in  his  sufferings,  is  often  tempted  to 
think  lihnself  forgotten.  Bift  his  affections  aie  the 
clearest  proof's,  that  he  is  an  object  both  of  Satan's  en- 
mity, and  of  God's  fatherly  discipline.  Satan  would 
not  iiave  man  sutler  a  single  trouble  all  his  life  long,  if 
he  nnght  have  his  way.    He  would  give  him  the  thing 


70 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


his  heart  is  set  upon.  He  would  work  in  witli  liis  am- 
bition. He  would  pamper  liis  lasts  and  his  pride.  But 
God  has  better  things  in  reserve  for  liis  children  :  and 
they  must  be  brought  to  desire  them  and  seek  them  ; 
and  this  will  be  tlirough  the  week  and  sacrifice  of  all 
that  the  heart  holds  dear.  The  Christian  prays  for 
fuller  manifestations  of  Christ's  power  and  glory  and 
love  to  him  ;  but  he  is  often  not  aware  that  this  is,  in 
truth,  praying  to  be  brought  into  the  furnace  ;  for  in  the 
furnace  only  it  is,  that  Christ  can  walk  with  his  friends, 
and  display,  in  their  preservation  and  deliverance,  his 
own  almighty  power.  Yet,  when  brought  thither,-it  is 
one  of  the  worst  parts  of  the  trial,  that  the  Christian 
often  thinks  himself,  for  a  time  at  least,  abandoned. 
Job  thought  so.  But  while  he  looked  on  himself  as  an 
outcast,  the  infinite  Spirit  and  the  wicked  Spirit  were 
holding  a  dialogue  on  his  case  !  He  Avas  more  an  ob- 
ject of  notice  and  interest,  than  the  largest  armies  that 
were  ever  assembled,  and  the  mightiest  revolutions  that 
ever  shook  the  world,  considered  merely  in  their  tem- 
poral interests  and  consefjuences.  Let  the  Christian  be 
deeply  concerned,  in  all  his  trials,  to  honor  his  IVIaster 
before  such  observers  !  * 

Affliction  has  a  tendency,  especially  if  long  con- 
tinued, to  generate  a  kind  of  despondency  and  ill-tem- 
per :  and  spiritual  incapacity  is  closely  connected  wiih 
pain  and  sickness.  The-spirit  of  prayer  does  not  ne- 
cessarily come  with  aflliction.  If  this  be  not  poured 
oul'upou  the  man,  he  will,  like  a  wounded  beast,  skulk 
to  his  den  and  growl  there. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECiL. 


71 


God  lias  marked  implicitni'.ss  and  simplicity  of 
FAITH  \^itli  peculiar  approbation.  He  has  done  tins 
tlirouo;liout  the  Scripture  ;  and  he  is  doins;  it  daily  in 
the  Christian  life.  An  unsuspecting,  unquestioning, 
unhesitating  spii  it,  he  delights  to  honor.  He  does  not 
delight  in  a  credulous,  weak,  and  unstable  mind.  He 
gives  us  full  evidence,  when  he  calls  and  leads  ;  but 
he  expects  to  find  in  us — what  he  himself  bestows — an 
open  ear  and  disposed  heart.  Though  he  gives  us  not 
the  evidence  of  sense  ;  yet  he  gives  such  evidence  us 
will  be  heard  by  an  open  ear,  and  foUoned  by  a  dis- 
posed heart: — Thomas',  becfiusc  thou  hast  seen  m", 
thou  haat  believed  :  blessed  are  theij  that  have  not 
seen,  and  yet  have  believed.  We  are  witnesses  what 
an  open,  ear  and  a  disposed  heart  will  do  in  men  of  tlie 
world.  If  weahh  is  in  pursuit — if  a  place  presents  it- 
.self  before  them — if  their  persons  and  families  and  af- 
fairs are  the  object — a  wliisper,  a  hint,  a  probability,  a 
mere  chance,  is  a  suUicient  ground  of  action.  It  is  this 
very  state  of  mind  with  regard  to  religion,  which  God 
deHghts  in  and  honors.  He  seems  to  put  forth  his  hand, 
and  to  say — "  Put  thy  hand  into  mine.  Follow  all  my 
leadings.    Keep  thyself  attentive  to  every  turn." 


A  SOUND  heart  is  an  excellent  casuist.  Men  stand 
doubting  what  they  shall  do,  while  an  evil  heart  is  at 
the  bottom.  II",  with  St.  Paul,  they  simply  did  one 
thing,  the  way  would  be  plain.  .  A  miser,  or  an  ambi- 
tious man,  knows  his  points ;  and  he  has  such  a  sim- 
plicity in  the  pursuit  of  them,  that  you  seldom  find  him 
at  a  loss  about  the  steps  which  he  should  take  to  attain 
them.    He  has  acquired  a  sort  of  instinctive  habit  in 


72 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


Ids  pursuit.  Simplicity  and  rectitude  would  have  pre- 
vented a  thousand  schisms  in  the  Church  ;  which  have 
generally  risen  from  menhavins?  something  else  in  plan 
and  prospect,  and  not  the  one  thing. 

What  I  do  ihou  knowest  not  now  ;  hut  thou  shall 
know  hereafter— \^  the  unwearied  language  of  God, 
in  his  providence.  He  will  have  credit  every  step. 
He  will  not  assign  reasons,  because  he  will  exercise 
faith. 


Pride  urges  men  to  inquire  into  the  Philosophy  of 
divine  truth.  They  are  not  contented,  for  example, 
with  the  account  which  the  Bible  gives  of  the  origin  of 
evil,  and  its  actual  influence  on  mankind  ;  but  they 
would  supply  ^^hat  God  has  left  untold.  They  would 
explain  the  fitness  and  propriety  of  things.  A  mathe- 
matician may  summon  his  scholars  round  his  chair,  and 
from  self-evident  principles  deduce  and  demmistrate 
his  cmiclusions :  he  has  axioms;  but  concerning  evil 
we  have  none.  A  Christian  may  say  on  this  subject, 
as  Sir  Christopher  ^^'ren  did  concerning  the  roof  of 
King's  Collese  ChaiKl— Show  me  how  to  fix  the  first 
stone,  and  f  will  finish  the  building.-'—"  Explain  the 
origin  of  evil,  and  I  vriU  explain  every  other  difficulty 
respecting  evil."  We  are  placed  in  a  disposition  and 
constitution  of  things,  under  a  righteous  Governor.  If 
Ave  will  not  rest  satisfied  with  this,  something  is  wrong 
in  oiu-  state  of  mind.  It  is  a  solid  satisfaction  to  every 
man  who  has  been  seduced  into  foolish  inquiries  that  it 
is  ulteriy  im.possible  to  advance  one  inch  by  them.  He 
must  come  back  to  rest  in  God's  appointment ;  he  must 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


73 


come  back  to  sit  patiently,  meekly,  and  with  docility, 
at  the  feet  of  a  teacher. 

Duties  are  ours  :  events  are  God's.  This  removes  an 
infinite  burden  from  the  shoulders  of  a  miserable,  temp- 
ted, dying  creature.  On  this  consideration  only,  can  he 
securely  lay  down  his  head  and  close  his  eyes. 

The  Christian  often  thinks,  and  schemes,  and  talks, 
like  a  practical  Atheist.  His  eye  is  so  conversant  with 
second  causes,  that  the  great  Mover  is  little  regarded. 
And  yet  those  sentiments  and  that  conduct  of  others,  by 
which  his  affairs  are  influenced,  are  not  formed  by 
chance  and  at  random.  They  are  attracted  toward  the 
system  of  his  affairs,  or  repelled  from  them,  by  the 
highest  power.  We  talk  of  attraction  in  the  universe  ; 
but  there  is  no  such  tiling,  as  we  are  accustomed  to  con- 
sider it.  The  natural  and  moral  worlds  are  held  to- 
gether in  their  respective  operations,  by  an  incessant 
administration.  It  is  the  mighty  grasp  of  a  controll- 
ing hand,  which  keeps  every  thing  in  its  station. 
Were  this  control  suspended,  there  is  nothing  adequate 
1o  the  preservation  of  harmony  and  affection  between 
ray  mind  and  that  of  my  dearest  friend,  for  a  single 
hour. 

r   

Lord  Chesterfield  tells  his  son,  that  when  he  enter- 
ed into  the  world  and  heard  the  conjectures  and  notions 
about  public  affairs,  he  was  surprised  at  their  folly; 
because  he  was  in  the  secret,  and  knew  what  was  pass- 
ing in  the  cabinet.  We  negociate.  We  make  trea- 
ties.   We  make  war.    We  cry  for  peace.    We  have 

G 


74 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


public  liopes  and  fears.  We  distrust  one  minister,  and 
we  repose  on  another.  We  recal  one  general  or  admi- 
ral, because  he  has  lost  the  national  confidence,  and  we 
send  out  another  with  a  full  tide  of  hopes  and  expecta- 
tions. We  find  sometliing  in  men  and  measures,  as 
the  sufficient  cause  of  all  sufferings  or  anticipations.— 
But  a  religious  man  enters  the  cabinet.  He  sees,  in  all 
public  fears  and  difficulties,  the  pressure  of  God's  hand. 
So  long  as  this  pressm-e  continues,  he  knows  that  we 
may  move  heaven  and  earth  in  vain ;  every  thing  is 
bound  up  in  icy  fetters.  But,  when  God  removes  his 
band,  the  waters  flow,  measures  avail,  and  hopes  are 
accomplished. 

We  are  too  apt  to  forget  our  actual  dependence  on 
providence,  for  the  circumstances  of  every  instant. 
The  most  trivial  events  may  determine  our  state  in  the 
world.  Turning  up  one  street  instead  of  another,  may 
bring  us  into  company  witli  a  person  whom  we  should 
not  otherwise  have  met ;  and  this  may  lead  to  a  train  of 
other  events,  which  may  determine  the  happiness  or 
misery  of  our  lives. 

Light  may  break  in  upon  a  man  after  he  has  take* 
a  particular  step  ;  but  he  will  not  condemn  himself  for 
the  step  taken  in  a  less  degree  of  light  :  he  may  here- 
after see  still  better  than  he  now  does,  and  have  reason 
to  alter  his  opinion  again.  It  is  enough  to  satisfy  us  of 
our  duty,  if  we  are  conscious  at  the  time  we  take  a 
step,  we  have  an  adequate  motive.  If  we  are  consci- 
ous of  a  wrong  motive,  or  of  a  rash  proceeding,  for 
such  steps  we  must  expect  to  suffer. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL 


75 


Trouble  or  difficulty  befalling  us  after  any  particular 
step,  is  not  of  itself,  an  argument  that  the  step  was 
wrong.  A  storm  overtook  the  disciples  in  the  ship  ; 
but  this  was  no  proof  that  they  had  done  wrong  to  go 
on  board.  Esau  met  Jacob,  and  occasioned  him  great 
fear  and  anxiety,  when  lie  left  Laban  ;  but  this  did  not 
prove  him  to  have  done  wTong  in  the  step  which  he  had 
taken.  Difficulties  are  no  ground  of  presumption 
against  us,  when  we  did  not  run  into  them  in  following 
our  own  will ;  yet  the  Israelites  were  with  difficulty  con- 
vinced that  they  were  in  the  path  of  duty,  when  they 
found  themselves  shut  in  by  the  Red  Sea.  Christians, 
and  especially  ministers,  must  expect  troubles  :  it  is  in 
this  way  that  God  leads  them  :  he  conducts  them  ^ per 
a7-dua  ad  astra."  They  would  be  in  imminent  dan- 
ger if  the  multitude  at  all  times  cried  Hosanna  ! 

We  must  remember  that  we  are  short-sighted  crea- 
tures. We  are  like  an  unskilful  chess-player,  who 
lakes  the  next  piece,  while  a  skilful  one  looks  further. 
He,  who  sees  the  end  from  the  beginning,  will  often 
appoint  us  a  most  inexplicable  way  to  walk  in.  Joseph 
was  put  into  the  pit  and  tiie  dungeon  :  but  this  was  the 
way  which  led  to  the  tlu-one. 

We  often  want  to  know  too  much  and  too  soon.  We 
want  the  light  of  to-morrow,  but  it  will  not  come  till  to- 
morrow. And  then  a  slight  turn,  perhaps^  will  throw 
such  light  on  our  path,  that  we  shall  be  astonished  we 
saw  not  our  way  before.  "  I  can  wait,"  says  Lavater. 
This  is  a  high  attainment.  We  must  labor,  therefore, 
to  be  quiet  in  that  path,  from  which  we  cannot  recede 
without  danger  and  evil. 


76  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

There  is  not  a  nobler  sight  in  the  world,  than  an  aged 
and  experienced  Ciu-istian,  who,  having  been  sifted  in 
the  sieve  of  temptation,  stands  forth  as  a  confirrtier  of 
the  assaulted— testifying,  from  his  own  trials,  the  real- 
ity of  religion ;  and  meeting,  by  his  warnings  and  di- 
rections and  consolations,  the  cases  of  all  who  may  be 
tempted  to  doubt  it. 

The  Christian  expects  his  reward,  not  as  due  to 
merit ;  but  as  connected,  in  a  constitution  of  grace, 
with  those  acts  which  grace  enables  him  to  perform. 
The  pilgrim,  who  has  been  led  to  the  gate  of  heaven, 
will  not  knock  there  as  worthy  of  being  admitted  ;  but 
the  gate  shall  open  to  him,  because  he  is  brought  thith- 
er. He,  who  soirs,  even  ivith  tears,  the  precious 
seed  of  faith,  hope,  and  love,  shall  doubtless  come 
again  with  joy,  and  bring  his  sheaves  with  him  ;  be- 
cause it  is  in  the  very  natuie  of  that  seed,  to  yield,  un- 
der the  kindly  influence  secured  to  it,  a  joyful  harvest. 


ON  SUBJECTS  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  CHRISTIAN 
MINISTRY. 

ON  A  minister's  QUALIFYING  HIMSELF  FOR  HIS  OFFICE. 

When  a  young  minister  sets  out,  he  should  sit  doAvn 
and  ask  himself  how  he  may  best  qualify  himself 

FOR  HIS  OFFICE. 

How  does  a  physician  quahfy  himself?  It  is  not 
enough  that  he  oli'ers  to  feel  the  pulse.    He  must  read. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


77 


and  enquire,  and  observe,  and  make  experiments,  and 
correct  himself  again  and  again.  He  must  lay  in  a 
stock  of  medical  knowledge  before  he  begins  to  feel 
llie  pulse. 

The  minister  is  a  physician  of  a  far  higher  order. 
He  has  a  vast  field  before  him.  He  has  to  study  an  in- 
finite variety  of  constitutions.  He  is  to  furnish  him- 
self y\'\t]\  the  knowledge  of  the  whole  system  of  reme- 
dies. He  is  to  be  a  man  of  skill  and  expedient.  If 
one  thing  fail,  he  must  know  how  to  apply  another. 
Many  intricate  and  perplexed  cases  will  come  before 
him  :  it  will  be  disgraceful  to  him  not  to  be  prepared 
for  sucIr  His  patients  will  put  many  questions  to  liim  : 
it  will  be  disgraceful  to  him  not  to  be  prepared  to 
answer  them.  He  is  a  merchant  embarking  in  exten- 
sive concerns.  A  little  ready  money  in  the  pocket  will 
not  answer  the  demands  that  will  be  made  upon  him. 
Some  of  us  seem  to  think  it  will.  But  they  are  grossly 
deceived.  There  must  be  a  well  furnished  account  at 
the  banker's. 

But  it  is  not  all  gold  that  glitters.  A  young  minis- 
ter must  learn  to  separate  and  select  his  materials.  A 
man  wlio  talks  to  himself  will  find  out  what  suits  the 
heart  of  man  :  some  things  respond  :  they  ring  again. 
Nothing  of  tliis  nature  is  lost  on  mankind  :  it  is  worth  its 
w  eiglit  in  gold,  for  the  service  of  a  minister.  He  must 
remark,  too,  what  it  is  that  puzzles  and  distracts  the 
mind  :  all  this  is  to  be  avoided  :  it  may  wear  the  garb 
of  deep  research,  and  great  acumen,  and  extensive 
learning  ;  but  it  is  nothing  to  the  mass  of  mankind. 

One  of  the  most  important  considerations  in  making 
a  sermon,  is  to  disembarrass  it  as  much  as  possible. 
G  2 


78 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


The  sermons  of  tlie  last  century  were  like  their  large, 
unwieldy  chairs.  Men  have  now  a  far  more  true  idea 
of  a  chair.  They  consider  it  as  a  piece  of  furniture  to 
sit  upon,  and  they  cut  away  from  it  every  thing  that 
embarrasses  and  encumbers  it.  It  requires  as  much  re- 
flection and  wisdom  to  know  what  is  not  to  be  put  into 
a  sermon,  as  what  is. 

A  young  minister  should  likewise  look  round  him, 
that  he  may  see  what  has  succeeded  and  what  has  not. 
Truth  is  to  be  his  companion,  but  he  is  to  clothe  her  so 
as  to  gain  her  access.  Truth  must  never  bow  to  fashion 
or  prejudice  ;  but  her  garb  may  be  varied.  No  man  was 
ever  eminently  successful  in  his  ministry,  who  did  not 
make  truth  his  friend.  Such  a  man  might  not  see  her, 
indeed,  in  all  her  beauty  and  proportions ;  but,  certain- 
ly, he  saw  and  loved  her.  A  young  minister  should 
remember  that  she  does  not  wear  the  dress  of  a  party. 
"Wherever  she  is,  she  is  one  and  the  same,  however  va- 
riously men  may  array  her.  He,  who  is  ignorant  of  her 
prominent  and  distinguishing  features,  is  like  a  musi- 
cian who  plays  half  score  :  it  grates  on  every  well- 
fonned  ear ;  as  fatal  error  finds  no  corresponding  vi- 
bration in  the  renewed  heart.  Truth  fonns  an  imme- 
diate acquaintance  witli  such  a  heart,  by  a  certain  fit- 
ness and  suitableness  to  its  state  and  feelings.  She  is 
something  different  from  the  picture  which  a  Church- 
man draws  of  her.  A  Dissenter  misses  her  perfect 
figure.  A  Frenchman  distorts  her  features  in  one  way  : 
and  an  Englishman  in  anotlier.  Every  one  makes  his 
own  cast  and  color  too  essential  to  her. 

Knowledge,  tlien,  and  truth,  are  to  be  the  constant 
aim  of  a  young  minister.   But  where  shall  he  find  them  ? 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


79 


Let  him  learn  from  a  fool,  if  a  fool  can  teach  him  any- 
thing. Let  him  be  every  where,  and  always  a  learner. 
He  should  imitate  Gainsborough.  Gainsboi'ough  trans- 
fused nature  into  his  landscapes,  beyond  almost  any  of 
his  contemporaries  :  because  Gainsborough  was  every 
where  the  painter.  Every  remarkable  feature  or  posi- 
tion of  a  tree — every  fine  stroke  of  nature — was  copied 
into  his  pocket-book  on  the  spot ;  and,  in  his  next  pic- 
ture, appeared  with  a  life  and  vivacity  and  nature, 
which  no  strength  of  memory  or  imagination  could  have 
supplied. 

There  is  a  certain  wise  way,  too,  in  which  he  should 
accustom  himself  to  look  do^vn  on  the  pm'suits  of  all 
other  men.  No  man  of  eminence  in  his  profession  is 
destitute  of  such  a  partial  feeling  for  his  profession ; 
though  his  judgment  may  remonstrate  with  him  thereon, 
as  an  unfounded  partiality.  The  minister,  however,  is 
REQUIRED  so  to  view  all  other  pursuits.  He  alone  is  the 
man  whose  aim  is  eternity.  He  alone  is  the  man,  whose 
office  and  profession,  in  all  their  parts,  are  raised  into 
dignity  and  importance,  by  their  dii-ect  reference  to 
eternity.  For  eternity  he  schemes,  and  plans,  and 
labors. 

He  should  become  a  philosopher  also.  He  should 
make  experiments  on  himself  and  others,  in  order  to 
find  out  what  will  produce  effect.  He  is  a  fisherman  ; 
and  the  fisherman  must  fit  himself  to  his  employment. 
If  some  fish  will  bite  only  by  day,  lie  must  fish  by  day  ; 
if  others  will  bite  only  by  moonlight,  he  must  fish  for 
them  by  moonlight.  He  has  an  engine  to  work,  and  it 
must  be  his  most  assiduous  endeavour  to  work  his  en- 
gine to  the  full  extent  of  its  powers  :  and,  to  find  out 


80 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


its  powers,  is  the  first  step  toward  success  and  effect. 
Many  men  play  admirably  on  tlie  organ,  if  you  would 
allow  to  them  that  there  is  no  difference  betw  een  an 
organ  and  a  harpsicord,  but  they  have  utterly  mistaken 
its  powers.  Combination  is  the  unrivalled  excellence 
of  the  organ ;  and  therefore  he  only  can  display  its 
powers,  who  studies  the  chords  and  stops  in  all  their 
infinite  variety  of  resolution  and  composition,  rather 
than  the  rapid  motion  of  his  fingers  only. 

But  all  the  minister's  efforts  ^\ill  be  vanity,  or  w  orse 
than  vanity,  if  he  have  not  imction.  Unction  must  come 
dowTi  from  heaven,  and  spread  a  savor  and  relish  and 
feeling  over  his  ministry.  And,  among  all  the  other 
means  of  qualifying  himself  for  his  office,  the  Bible 
must  hold  the  first  place,  and  the  last  also  must  be 
given  to  the  word  of  God  and  prayer. 


ON  THE  ASSISTANCE  WHICH  A  MINISTER  HAS  REASON 
TO  EXPECT  IN  THE  DISCHARGE  OF  HIS  PUBLIC  DUTY. 

Men  have  carried  their  views  on  this  subject  to  ex- 
tremes. Enthusiasts  have  said  that  learning,  and  that 
studying  and  writing  sermons,  have  injiu-ed  the  cliurch. 
The  accurate  men  have  said,  "  Go  and  hear  one  of 
these  enthusiasts  hold  forth  !» 

But  both  classes  may  be  rendered  useful.  Let  each 
correct  its  evils,  yet  do  its  work  in  its  own  way. 

Some  men  set  up  exhorbitant  notions  about  accuracy. 
But  exquisite  accuracy  is  totally  lost  on  mankind.  The 
greater  part  of  those  who  hear,  cannot  be  brought 
to  see  the  points  of  the  acccurate  man.    The  Scriptures 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


81 


are  not  viitten  in  this  manner.  I  sliould  advise  a 
young  minister  to  break  tlu-ough  all  such  cobwebs,  as 
these  unphilosophical  men  would  spin  round  hini.  An 
humble  and  modest  man  is  silenced,  if  he  sees  one  of 
these  critics  before  him.  He  should  say,  "  I  am  God's 
servant.  To  my  own  master  I  stand  or  fall.  I  will  labor 
accoiding  to  the  utmost  ability  which  God  giveth,  and 
leave  all  consequences  to  him." 

«  We  are  especially  taught  in  the  New  Testament,  to 
glorify  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  and,  in  his  gracious  opera- 
tions in  our  ministry,  we  are  nearer  the  apostohc  times 
than  we  often  think  ourselves.  But  this  assistance  is 
to  be  expected  by  us,  as  laborers  in  the  vineyard  ;  not 
as  rhapsodists.  Idle  men  may  be  pointed  out,  who 
have  abused  the  doctrine  of  divine  assistance ;  but 
what  has  not  been  abused  ?  We  must  expect  a  special 
blessing  to  accompany  the  truth :  not  to  supersede 
labor,  but  to  rest  on  and  accompany  labor. 

A  minister  is  to  be  iii  season,  and  out  of  season  ; 
and,  therefore,  every  where  a  minister.  He  will  not 
employ  himself  in  writing  secular  histories :  he  will 
not  bu.sy  himself  in  prosecuting  mathematical  inquiries. 
He  will  labor  directly  in  his  high  calling  :  and  indi- 
rectly, in  a  vast  variety  of  ways,  as  he  may  be  enabled  : 
aud  God  may  bless  that  word  in  private,  which  may 
have  been  long  heard  in  public  in  vain. 

A  minister  should  satisfy  himself  in  saying,  "  It  mat- 
ters not  what  men  think  of  my  talents.  Am  I  doing 
what  I  can  ?" — for  there  is  great  encouragement  in  that 
commendation  of  our  Lord's,  She  hath  done  what  she 
could.  It  would  betray  a  wrong  state  of  mind  to  say, 
"  If  I  had  discharged  my  duty  in  such  and  such  a  way. 


82 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


I  should  have  succeeded."  This  is  a  carnal  spirit.  If 
God  bless  the  simple  manner  in  which  you  spoke,  that 
will  do  good  ;  if  not,  no  manner  of  speaking  could  have 
done  it. 

There  is  such  a  thing  in  the  religious  world  as  a 
cold,  carnal  wisdom :  eveiy  thing  must  be  nicely 
weighed  in  the  scales ;  every  thing  must  be  exactly 
measui-ed  by  the  rule.  I  question  if  this  is  not  worse, 
in  its  consequences,  than  the  enthusiasm  which  it  op» 
poses.  Both  are  evil,  and  to  be  .shunned.  But  I 
scarcely  ever  knew  a  preacher  or  writer  of  this  class 
who  did  much  good. 

We  are  to  go  forth,  expecting  the  excellency  of 
God's  power  to  accompany  us,  since  we  are  but  earth- 
en vessels  :  and  if,  in  the  apostolic  days,  diligence  was 
necessajy,  how  much  more  requisite  is  it  now  ! 

But  to  the  exercise  of  this  diligence,  a  sufficiency  in 
all  things  is  promised.  What  does  a  minister  require  ? 
In  all  these  respects  the  promise  is  applicable  to  him. 
He  needs,  for  instance,  courage  and  patience  :  he  may, 
therefore,  expect  that  the  Holy  Spirit  will  enable  him 
for  the  exercise  of  these  graces. 

A  minister  maj'  expect  more  superintendence,  more 
elevation,  than  a  hearer.  It  can  scarcely  be  question- 
ed that  he  ought  to  pray  for  this  ;  if  so,  he  has  a  ground 
in  Scriptuie  thus  to  pray. 

I  have  been  cm-ed  of  expecting  the  Holy  Spirit's  in- 
fluence without  due  preparation  on  our  part,  by  observ- 
ing how  men  preach  who  take  up  that  error.  I  have 
heard  such  men  talk  nonsense  by  the  hour. 

We  must  combine  Luther  with  St.  Paul — "Bene 
orasse  est  bene  studuisse,'"  must  be  united  with  St. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


83 


Paul's  Meditate  upon  these  things :  give  thyself 
irholly  to  them,  that  thy  ■profiting  may  appear  to 
all.  One  em  who  says,  "  I  will  preach  a  reputable 
sermon  :"  and  another  errs  who  says,  "  I  will  leave  all 
lo  the  assistance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,"  while  he  has  ne- 
glected a  diligent  preparation. 


ON  PREACHING  CHRIST. 

We  preach  Christ  crucifi,ed — 1  Cor.  i,  23. 

Christ  is  God's  great  ordinance.  Nothing  ever  has 
been  done,  or  will  be  done  to  purpose,  but  so  far  as  he 
is  held  forth  with  simplicity.  All  the  lines  must  centre 
in  him.  I  feel  this  in  my  own  experience,  and  there- 
fore I  govern  my  ministry  by  it :  but  then  this  is  to  be 
done  according  to  the  analogy  of  faith — not  ignor- 
ant ly,  absurdly,  and  falsely.  I  doubt  not,  indeed,  but 
that  excess  ou  this  side  is  less  pernicious  than  excess  on 
the  other ;  because  God  will  bless  his  own  especial  or- 
dinance, though  partially  understood  and  partially  ex- 
lubited. 

There  are  many  weighty  reasons  for  rendering 
Chi-ist  prominent  in  our  ministry  : — 

1.  Christ  cheers  the  prospect.  Every  tiling  con- 
nected w  ith  him  has  light  and  gladness  thrown  round  it. 
I  look  out  of  my  window  : — the  scene  is  scowbng — 
dark— frigid — forbidding:  I  shudder — my  heart  is  chill- 
ed. But  let  the  sun  break  forth  from  the  cloud — I  can 
feel — I  can  act — I  can  spring. 

2.  God  descending  and  dwelling  with  man,  is  a 


84 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


truth  SO  infinitely  grand,  that  it  must  absorb  nil 
others.  "  You  are  his  attendants  !  Well !  but  tlie  king  ! 
There  he  is  ! — the  king  !" 

3.  Out  of  Christ  God  is  not  intelligible,  much 
less  amiable.  Such  men  as  Clarke  and  Abernethy  talk 
sublime  nonsense.  A  sick  woman  said  to  me — '  Sir  ! 
I  have  no  notion  of  God.  I  can  form  no  notion  of  him. 
You  talk  to  me  about  him,  but  I  cannot  get  a  single 
idea  that  seems  to  contain  any  thing.' — '  But  you  know 
how  to  conceive  of  Jesus  Christ  as  a  man !  God  comes 
down  to  you  in  him,  full  of  kindness  and  condescension.' 
— '  Ah  !  Sir,  that  gives  me  something  to  lay  hold  on. 
There  I  can  rest.  I  understand  God  in  his  Son.'  But 
if  God  is  not  intelligible  out  of  Ciirist,  much  less  is  he 
amiable,  though  I  ought  to  feel  him  so.  He  is  an  ob- 
ject of  horror  and  aversion  to  me,  corrupted  as  I  am  !  I 
fear — I  tremble — I  resist — I  hate — I  rebel. 

4.  it  preacher  may  pursue  his  topic,  without  be- 
ing led  by  it  to  Christ.  A  man  who  is  accustomed  to 
investigate  topics  is  in  danger.  He  takes  up  his  topic 
and  pursues  it.  He  takes  up  another  and  pursues  it. 
At  length  Jesus  Christ  becomes  his  topic,  and  then  he 
pursues  that.  If  he  cannot  so  feel  and  think  as  to  bend 
all  subjects  naturally  and  gracefully  to  Christ,  he  must 
seek  his  remedy  in  selecting  such  as  Jire  more  evangeli- 
cal. 

5.  God  puts  peculiar  honor  on  the  preaching  of 
Christ  crucified.  A  philosopher  may  philosophize  his 
liearers,  but  the  preaching  of  Christ  must  convert  them. 
John  the  Baptist  will  make  his  hearers  tremble  ;  but,  if 
the  least  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  greater  than  he, 
let  him  exhibit  that  peculiar  feature  of  his  superiority 


REMAINS  OK  MR.  CECIL. 


85 


— Jesus  Christ.  Men  may  preach  Clirist  ignorantly — 
blunderingly — absurdly  :  yet  God  will  give  it  efficacy, 
because  he  is  determined  to  magnify  his  own  ordinance. 

6.  God  seeins,  in  the  doctrine,  of  the  cross,  to  de- 
sign the  desti-uction  of  mmi's  pride.  Evfn  the  mur- 
derer and  the  adulterer  sometimes  become  subjects  of 
the  grace  of  the  Gospel,  because  the  murderer  and  adul- 
terer are  more  easily  conv-inced  and  humbled  :  but  the 
man  of  virtue  is  seldom  reached,  because  the  man  of 
virtue  disdains  to  descend.  Remember  me,  saved  a 
dying  malefactor  ! — God,  I  thank  Thee,  condemned  a 
proud  Pharisee  ! 


Every  minister  should  therefore  enquire,  "  what  is 

FOR  ME  THE  WISEST  AVAY  OF  PREACHING  CHRIST  TO  MEN  V 

Some  seem  to  think  that  in  the  choice  of  a  wise  way, 
there  lurks  always  a  trimming  disposition.  There  are 
men,  doubtless,  who  will  sacrifice  to  self,  even  Christ 
Jesus  the  Lord:  but  they,  of  all  men,  are  farthest 
from  the  thing.  There  is  a  secret  in  doing  it,  which 
none  but  an  honest  man  can  discover.  The  knave  is 
not  half  wise  enough. 

We  are  not  to  judge  one  another  in  these  things. 
Sufficient  it  is,  to  us,  to  know  wliat  we  have  to  do. 
There  are  different  ways  of  doing  the  same  thing,  and 
that  with  success  and  acceptance.  We  see  this  in  the 
apostles  themselves.  They  not  only  preached  Cin-ist  in 
different  ways  ;  but,  what  is  more,  they  could  not  do 
this  like  one  another.  They  declare  this  fact  them- 
selves ;  and  acknowledge  the  grace  of  God  in  their 
respective  gifts.  Our  beloved  brother  Paul  writes, 
says  St.  Peter,  according  to  the  wisdom  given  unto 

H 


86 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


Iiim.  But  tliere  are  Peters,  in  our  days,  who  would 
say — "  Paul  is  too  learned.  Away  with  these  things, 
which  are  hard  to  be  understood.  He  should  be  more 
sim^jle.  I  dislike  all  this  reasoning."  And  there  are 
Pauls,  who  would  say,  "  Peter  is  rash  and  unguarded. 
He  should  put  a  curb  on  his  impetuosity."  And  there 
are  Johns,  who  would  say,  "  They  should  both  dis- 
charge their  offices  in  my  soft  and  winning  manner. 
No  good  will  come  of  this  fii  e  and  noise."  Nothing  of 
this  sort !  Each  hath  hit  proper  cjift  of  God  ;  one  af- 
ter this  manner,  and  another  after  that :  and  each 
seems  only  desirous  to  occnpy  faithfully  till  his  Mas- 
ter come,  leaving  liis  brethren  to  stand  or  fall  to  their 
oicn  Master. 

Too  much  dependence  is  often  placed  on  a  system  of 
RATIONAL  CONTRIVANCE.  An  iiigenious  man  thinks  lie 
can  so  manage  to  preach  Ciu-ist,  that  his  hearers  will 
say — "  Here  is  nothing  of  methodism  !  This  has  no- 
thing to  do  with  that  system  !"  I  will  venture  to  say, 
if  this  is  the  sentiment  communicated  by  his  ministry, 
tliat  he  has  not  delivered  his  message.  The  people  do 
not  know  what  he  means,  or  he  has  kept  back  part  of 
God's  truth.  He  has  fallen  on  a  carnal  contrivance, 
to  avoid  a  cross,  and  lie  does  no  good  to  souls.  The 
WHOLE  MESSAGE  iTiust  be  delivered  ;  and  it  is  better 
it  should  be  delivered  even  coarsely,  than  not  at  all. 
We  may  lay  it  down  as  a  principle — That  if  the  Gos- 
be  a  MEDICINE,  and  a  specific  too — as  it  is — it  must  be 
got  down  SUCH  AS  IT  IS.  Any  attempt  to  sophisticate 
and  adulterate  will  deprive  it  of  its  efficacy  :  and  will 
often  recoil  on  the  man  who  makes  the  attempt,  to  his 
shame  and  confusion.     The  Jesuits  tried  to  render 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


87 


Christianity  palatable  to  the  Chinese  by  adulterating  it  ; 
but  tlie  Jesuits  were  driven  with  abliorrence  from  the 
empire. 

If  we  have  to  deal  with  men  of  learninsj,  let  us  shew 
learning  so  far  as  lo  demonstrate  that  it  bears  its  testi- 
mony to  the  truth.  But  accomodation  in  manner  must 
often  spring  from  humility.  We  must  condescend  to 
the  capacity  of  men,  and  make  the  truth  intelligible  to 
them. 

If  this  be  our  manner  of  preaching  Christ,  we  must 
make  up  our  minds  not  to  regard  the  little  caviller  who 
will  judge  us  by  the  standard  of  his  favorite  autiior  or 
preacher.  We  must  be  cautious,  too,  since  men  of 
God  have  been  and  ever  will  be  the  butt  and  scorn  of 
the  world,  of  thinking  that  we  can  escape  its  snares  and 
its  censm-es.  It  is  a  foolish  project — To  .woid  giving 
OFFENCE  ;  but  it  is  our  duty  to  avoid  giving  unneces- 
s.-VRV  offence.  It  is  necessary  offence,  if  it  is  given  by 
the  truth  :  but  it  is  unnecessary,  if  our  own  spirit  occa- 
sion it. 

I  have  often  thought  that  St.  Paul  was  raised  up  pe- 
culiarly to  be  an  example  to  others,  in  laboring  to  dis- 
cover the  wisest  way  of  exhiljiting  the  Gospel ;  not  only 
that  he  was  to  be  a  great  pattern  in  otl;er  points,  but 
designedly  raised  up  for  this  very  thing.  How  does 
he  labor  to  make  the  truth  reasonably  plain  !  How 
does  he  strain  every  nerve  and  ransack  evei  y  corner  of 
the  heart,  to  make  it  reasonably  palatable  !  We 
need  not  to  be  instructed  in  his  particular  meaning 
when  he  says,  I  became  all  things  to  allmeii,  if  by 
any  imans  I  might  save  some.  His  history  is  a  com- 
ment on  the  declaration. 


88 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CKCIL. 


The  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ  is  a  wonderful  mys- 
tery. Some  men  think  they  preach  Christ  gloriously 
because  they  name  him  every  two  minutes  in  their 
sermons.  But  that  is  not  preaching  Christ.  To  un- 
derstand, and  enter  into,  and  open  his  various  offices 
and  characters — the  glories  of  his  person  and  work — 
his  relation  to  us,  and  ours  to  him,  and  to  God  the  Fa- 
ther and  God  the  Spirit  through  him — this  is  the 
knowledge  of  Christ.  The  divines  of  the  present  day 
are  stunted  dwarfs  in  this  knowledge,  compared  v,i\h 
the  great  men  of  the  last  age.  To  know  Jesus  Christ 
for  ourselves,  is  to  make  him  a  consolation, — delight, 

STRENGTH, — RIGHTEOUSNESS, — COMPANION, — and  END. 

This  is  the  aspect  in  which  religion  should  be  pre- 
sented to  mankind  :  it  is  suited,  above  all  other,  to  pro- 
duce effect  ;  and  effect  is  our  object.  We  must  take 
human  nature  as  we  find  human  nature.  We  must 
take  human  nature  in  great  cities,  as  we  find  human 
nature  in  great  cities.  We  may  say — "this  or  that 
is  the  aspect  w  Jiich  ought  to  have  most  effect :  we  must 
illuminate  the  mind :  we  must  enlist  the  reason :  we 
must  attack  the  conscience."  We  may  do  all  this, 
and  yet  our  comparative  want  of  success  in  begetting 
and  educating  the  sons  of  glory,  may  demonstrate  to  us 
that  there  is  some  more  effective  way  ;  and  that  sound 
sense  and  philosophy  call  on  us  to  adopt  that  way,  be- 
cause it  is  the  most  effective. 

Our  system  of  preaching  must  meet  mankind  :  they 
must  find  it  possible  to  live  in  the  bustle  of  the  world, 
and  yet  serve  God  :  after  being  worried  and  harrassed 
with  its  concerns,  let  them  hear  cheering  truths  con- 
cerning Christ's  love  and  care  and  pity,  which  mil  ope- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


89 


rate  like  an  enchantment  in  dispelling  the  cares  of  life, 
and  calming  the  anxious  perturbations  of  conscience. 
Bring  forward  privileges  and  enforce  duties,  in  their 
proper  places  and  proportions. 

Let  there  be  no  extremes  :  yet  I  am  arrived  at  this 
conviction  : — Men,  who  lean  toward  the  extreme  of 
evangelical  privileges  in  their  ministry,  do  much  more 
to  the  conversion  of  their  hearers  ;  than  they  do,  who 
lean  toward  the  extreme  of  requirement.  And  my 
own  experience  confirms  my  observation.  I  feel  my- 
self repelled,  if  any  thing  chills,  loads,  or  urges  me. 
This  is  my  nature,  and  I  see  it  to  be  very  much  the  na- 
ture of  other  men.  But,  let  me  hear.  Son  of  man, 
thou  hast  played  the  harlot  with  many  lovers  ;  yet 
return  again  to  me  saith  the  Lord — I  am  melted  and 
subdued. 


ON  A  minister's  FAMILIAR  INTERCOURSE  WITH  HIS 
HEARERS. 

What  passes,  on  these  occasions,  too  often  savours 
of  this  world.  We  become  one  among  our  hearers. 
They  come  to  church  on  Sunday  ;  and  we  preach  :  the 
week  comes  round  again,  and  its  nonsense  with  it. 
Now,  if  a  minister  were  what  he  should  be,  the  people 
would  feel  it.  They  would  not  attempt  to  introduce 
this  silly,  diurnal  chat !  When  we  countenance  this, 
it  looks  as  though,  "  On  the  Sunday  I  am  ready  to  do 
MY  business  ;  and,  in  the  week,  you  may  do  YOURS." 
Tiiis  lowers  the  tone  of  what  I  say  on  the  Sabbath.  It 
forms  a  sad  comment  on  my  preaching. 

H  2 


90 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


I  have  ti-aced,  I  tliiiik,  some  of  the  e\il  that  hes  at 
the  root  of  tliis.  We  are  more  concerned  to  he  thought 
gentlemen,  than  to  be  felt  as  ministers.  Now  being  de- 
sirous to  be  thought  a  man  who  has  kept  good  company, 
strikes  at  the  root  of  that  rough  work — the  bringing  of 
God  into  his  own  world.  It  is  hard  and  rough  work  to 
bring  God  into  his  own  Avorld.  To  talk  of  a  Creator, 
and  Presei-ver,  and  Redeemer,  is  an  outrage  on  the  feel- 
ings of  most  companies. 

There  is  important  truth  in  what  Mr.  Wesley  said  to 
his  preachers,  when  rightly  understood,  however  it  may 
have  been  ridiculed  : — "  You  have  no  more  to  do  with 
being  gentlemen,  than  dancing  masters."  The  charac- 
ter of  a  minister  is  far  beyond  that  of  a  mere  gentleman. 
It  takes  a  higher  walk.  He  will,  indeed,  study  to  be 
a  real  gentleman  :  he  will  be  the  farthest  possible  from 
a  rude  man  :  he  A\ill  not  disdain  to  learn  nor  to  practice 
the  decencies  of  society :  but  he  will  sustain  a  still 
higher  character. 

It  is  a  snare  to  a  minister  when  in  company,  to  be 
drawn  out  to  converse  largely  on  the  state  of  the  funds, 
and  on  the  news  of  the  day.  He  should  know  the 
world,  and  what  is  doing  in  the  world,  and  should  give 
things  of  this  nature  their  due  place  and  proportion  ; 
but  if  he  can  be  dra\ni  out  to  give  twenty  opinions  on 
this  or  that  subject  of  politics  or  literature,  he  is  lower- 
ed in  his  tone.  A  man  of  sense  feels  something  violent 
in  the  transition  from  such  conversation  to  the  Bible 
and  to  prayer. 

Dinner  visits  can  seldom  be  rendered  really  profit- 
able to  the  mind.  The  company  are  so  much  occu- 
pied, that  little  good  is  to  be  done.    A  minister  should 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


91 


shew  his  sense  of  the  value  of  time  :  it  is  a  sad  tiling 
wlien  tliose  around  him  begin  to  yawn.  He  must  be  a 
man  of  business.  It  is  not  sufficiently  considered  how 
great  the  sin  of  idleness  is.  We  talk,  in  the  pulpit  of 
the  value  of  time,  but  we  act  too  little  on  what  we  say. 

Let  a  minister  who  declines  associating  much  with 
liis  hearers,  satisfy  himself  that  he  lias  a  good  reason 
for  doing  so.  If  reproached  for  not  \isiting  them  so 
much  as  they  wish,  let  him  have  a  just  reason  to  assign. 
A  man  who  is  at  work  for  his  family,  may  have  as 
much  love  for  them  as  the  wife,  though  she  is  always 
with  them. 

I  fell  into  a  mistake,  when  a  young  man,  in  thinking 
that  I  could  talk  with  men  of  the  world  on  their  own 
ground,  and  could  thus  win  them  over  to  mine.  I  was 
fond  of  painting,  and  so  talked  with  them  on  that  sub- 
ject. This  pleased  them  :  but  I  did  not  consider  that 
I  gave  a  consequence  to  their  pursuits  which  does  not 
belong  to  them  ;  whereas  I  ought  to  have  endeavored  to 
raise  them  above  these,  that  they  might  engage  in 
higher.  I  did  not  see  this  at  the  time  :  but  I  now  see 
it  to  have  been  a  great  error.  A  wealthy  man  builds 
a  tine  house,  and  opens  to  himself  fine  prospects  :  he 
wants  you  to  see  them,  for  he  is  sick  of  them  himself. 
They  thus  draw  you  into  their  schemes.  A  man  has 
got  ten  thousand  pounds  :  you  congratulate  him  upon 
it,  and  tliat  without  any  intimation  of  his  danger  or  his 
responsibility^  Now  you  may  tell  him  in  the  pulpit 
tliat  riches  are  nothing  worth  ;  but  you  will  tell  liim 
this  in  vain,  Avhile  you  tell  him  out  of  it  that  they  are. 

Lord  Chesterfield  says,  a  man's  character  is  degrad- 
ed when  HE  IS  to  be  had.    A  minister  ought  never 

TO  BE  HAD. 


92 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


ON  A  minister's  ENCOURAGING  ANIMADVERSION  Olf 
HIMSELF. 

It  is  a  serious  inquiry  for  a  minister,  how  far  he 

SHOULD  ENCOURAGE  ANIMADVERSION  ON  HIMSELF  IN  HIS 

HEARERS.  He  will  ciicounter  many  ignorant  and 
many  censorious  remarks,  but  he  may  gain  mucli  on 
the  whole. 

He  should  lay  down,  to  himself  a  few  principles. 

It  is  better  that  a  minister  smart  than  mistake. 
It  is  better  that  a  traveller  meet  a  .surly,  impertinent 
fellow  to  direct  him  in  his  way,  than  lose  his  way.  A 
minister  is  so  important  in  his  office,  that,  whatever 
others  think  of  it,  he  shoidd  regard  this  and  this  only 
as  the  transaction  for  eternity.  But  a  man  may  be  la- 
boring in  the  fire  :  he  may  be  turning  the  world  upside 
down,  and  yet  be  v\Toiig,  You  say  he  must  read  his 
Bible.  True  !  but  he  must  use  all  means.  He  must 
build  his  usefulness  on  this  principle— //*  any  means. 
If  the  wheel  hitches,  let  him,  by  any  means,  discover 
where  it  hitches.  This  principle  is  to  be  worked  con- 
tinually in  his  mind.  He  must  labor  to  keep  it  up  to  a 
fine,  keen  edge.  Let  him  never  beheve  that  his  ^•iew 
of  himself  is  sufficient.  A  merchant  sailing  in  quest  of 
gain,  is  so  intent  on  his  object,  that  he  ^^■ill  take  a  hint 
from  any  man.  If  we  had  all  the  meaning  to  which 
we  jireteud  in  our  pursuits,  we  should  feel  and  act  like 
him. 

A  minister  must  lay  it  down  also  as  a  principle,  that 
he  will  never  snjficienthj  understand  his  own  pride 
and  self-love  ;  and  that  confidence  in  his  own  sense, 
H-hich  cleaves  closely  to  every  man.    He  must  con- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


93 


siller  tills  as  the  general  malady.  Man  is  blind  and 
obstinate — poor  and  proud.  This  silly  creature,  through 
ignorance  ol'this  principle,  will  not  only  not  hear  a  vul- 
gar hearer  who  animadverts  on  him ;  but  he  will 
.scarcely  listen  to  a  superior  man  among  his  hearers. 
He  attends  to  such  a  one,  because  it  would  be  indecent 
not  to  attend.  But  he  finds  some  excuse  for  himself 
in  his  own  bosom.  He  reverences  what  is  said  very 
little,  if  at  all.  He  strokes  and  flatters  himself,  and 
makes  up  the  matter  very  well  in  his  own  mind. 

A  minister  should  consider  Jioto  much  more  easily 
a  toeak  man  can  7~ea(l  a  tri.se  //ni//,  than  a  wise 
man  can  read  himself :  and  that  for  tiiis  reason — no 
man  can  see  and  hear  himself.  He  is  too  much  formed 
in  his  own  habits — liis  family  notions — his  closet  notions 
— to  detect  himself.  He,  who  stands  by  and  sees  a 
game  played,  has  vast  advantages  over  the  players. 
Besides,  preachers  err  systeniatii  ally — learnedly — sci- 
entifically. The  simple  hearer  has  an  appeal  to  nature 
in  his  heart.  He  can  often  feel  that  his  minister  is 
wrong,  wheti  he  is  not  able  to  set  liiin  right.  Dr.  Man- 
tjn,  no  doubt,  thought  he  had  preached  well,  and  as 
became  him,  before  the  Lord  Mayor  :  but  he  felt  him- 
self reproveda  nd  instructed,  when  a  poor  man  pulled 
him  by  the  sleeve,  and  told  him  he  had  understood  no  - 
thing of  his  sermon  :  there  an  ajjpeal  in  th.is  poor 
man's  breast  to  nature  :  nature  could  not  make  any 
thing  of  the  Doctor's  learning.  When  Apelles  took 
his  stand  behind  his  picture,  he  was  a  wise  man  :  and 
he  was  a  wise  man  too,  when  he  altered  t!ie  shoe  on  the 
hint  of  tlie  cobbler  :  the  cobbler  ia  his  place,  was  to  be 
heard. 


94 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


A  minister  should  consider,  too,  tliat  few  will  ven- 
ture to  speak  to  a  public  man.  It  is  a  rare  thing  to 
hear  a  man  say — "  Upon  my  word  that  thing,  or  your 
general  manner,  is  deleclive  or  improper."  If  a  wise 
man  says  this,  he  shows  a  regard,  which  the  united 
stock  of  live  hunch-ed  flatterers  will  not  equal.  I  would 
set  down  half  the  blunders  of  ministers  to  their  not  list- 
ening to  animadversion.  I  have  heard  it  said— lor  the 
men,  wlio  would  animadvert  on  us,  talk,  among  them- 
selves, if  we  refuse  to  let  tliem  talk  to  us — I  have  heard 
it  said,  "  Why  don't  you  talk  to  him  ?"— "  Why  don't 
you  talk  to  him  !  because  he  will  not  hear  !" 

Let  him  consider,  moreover,  that  this  aversion  from 
reproof  is  not  wise.  This  is  a  symptom  of  the  dis- 
ease. Why  should  he  want  this  hushing  up  of  the 
disorder "?  This  is  a  mark  of  a  little  mind.  A  great 
man  can  afford  to  lose  :  a  little  insignificant  fellow  is 
afraid  of  being  snutied  out. 

A  minister  mistakes  who  should  refuse  to  read  any 
anonymous  letters.  He  may,  perhaps,  see  nothing  in 
them  the  first  time  ;  but,  let  him  read  them  again  and 
again.  The  writer  raises  his  superstructure,  probably, 
on  a  slight  basis  ;  yet  there  is  generally  some  sort  of 
occasion.  If  lie  points  out  but  a  small  error,  yet  tii.\t 
is  worth  detecting. 

In  the  present  habits  of  men,  it  is  so  difficult  to  get 
them  to  tell  tlie  naked  trutii,  that  a  minister  should  show 
a  dispusition  to  be  corrected :  he  should  show  liiniself 
to  be  seasible  of  the  want  of  it.  He  is  not  to  encoui-age 
idle  people  :  that  could  be  productive  of  no  possible 
good. 

These  are  some  of  the  reasons  for  a  minister's  encour- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


96 


agement  in  a  judicious  manner,  of  animadversion  on 
himself  in  his  hearers. 

Sometimes,  however,  a  man  will  come  who  appears 
to  be  an  impertinent  man,  independently  of  what  he  has 
to  remark — a  man  who  is  evidently  disposed  to  be 
troublesome.  Such  a  man  came  to  me,  with — "  Sir, 
you  said  such  a  tiling  that  seemed  to  lean  to  the  doc- 
trine of  universal  redemption.  Pray,  Sir,  may  I  speak 
a  httle  with  you  on  that  subject  ?"  Tlie  manner  of  the 
mail  at  i  nce  marked  his  character.  He  seemed  to 
bring  witii  liiui  this  kind  of  sentiment — "  I'll  go  and  set 
that  man  i-iglit.  I'll  call  that  man  to  account."  It  was  a 
sort  of  democratic  insolence  of  mind.  Instead  of 
answering  him  as  he  expected,  I  treated  him  as  a  child. 
I  turned  it  into  an  occasion  of  preaching  a  sermon  to 
him: — "Sir,  do  you  come  to  instruct  me, or  to  be  instruct- 
ed ?  Before  we  enter  on  a  question  which  has  exercised 
the  greatest  men,  we  want  a  preparedness  of  mind  :  we 
want  a  deep  humility — a  teachableness — a  spirit  of  de- 
pendence— of  whicli  you  seem  to  me  to  have  but  little." 

On  the  other  hand,  a  man  may  come,  quite  as  ignor- 
ant as  the  other,  yet  a  simple  ciiaracler.  I  have  dis- 
tressed him.  Tliough  he  cannot,  perliaps  be  made  to 
understand  what  he  inquires  about — jet  a  minister 
should  say  to  himself,  "  Have  I  puzzled  him  ?  He  is 
wounded,  and  he  comes  for  help." 

A  minister  should  iemember  that  he  is  not  always  to 
act  and  speak  authoritatively.  He  sits  on  his  friend's 
chair,  and  his  friend  says  his  things  to  him  with  frank- 
ness. They  may  want  perhaps  a  little  decorum  ;  but 
lie  sliould  receive  them  in  the  most  friendly  and  good 
humoured  way  in  the  world.    A  thing  strikes  this  man 


96  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

and  that  man :  he  may  depend  on  it,  that  it  has  some 
foundation. 

But  there  are  persons,  wliom  a  minister  should  more 
than  encourage  to  animadvert  on  him.  He  should  em- 
ploy them.  He  should  explain  himself  to  them.  He 
does  not  merely  want  an  account  of  his  sermon,  but  he 
employs  (hem  on  business.  To  such  sensible  persons, 
he  will  say—"  What  serious  judgment  do  you  form  of 
my  preaching  ?  Do  tell  me  what  sort  of  a  man  I  am." 
A  minister  has  to  treat  with  another  sort  of  hearers 

 uncandid  men,  and  yet  men  of  capacity :  a  sort  of 

men,  wlio  are  now  pleased,  and  then  displeased.  Tliey 
spy  a  blot  every  where.  He  is  likely  to  make  a  mis- 
take with  regard  to  such  men  :— "  What  signifies  the 
opinion  of  that  man  ?  That  man  can  never  be  pleased." 
True  !  that  man  cannot  be  pleased  ;  but  it  does  not  fol- 
low that  he  tells  you  no  truth.  In  treating  witli  such  a 
man  he  should  say— His  edge  may  be  too  keen  for  can- 
dor and  sound  judgment ;  yet  if  it  lays  open  to  me 
what  I  could  not  otherwise  see,  let  me  improve  by  its 
keenness.  What  hurt  can  he  do  to  me  ?  He  may 
damp  or  irritate  others,  by  talking  thus  to  them ;  but 
let  me  learn  what  is  to  be  learnt  from  liim."  Such  a 
man  lifts  a  minister  from  his  standing,  where  he  settles 
down  too  easily  and  firmly.  If  I  know  a  man  to  be  of 
this  class,  I  will  distinguish :  «  This  is  the  man :  but 
that  is  myself!"  If  I  would  write  a  book  to  stand  the 
fire,  let  me  find  out  tlie  severest  censor.  My  friend  is 
but  half  the  man  :  there  is  a  consentaneousness  of  senti- 
ment between  us  :  we  have  fallen  in  together,  till  we 
scarcely  know  how  to  ditfer  irom  each  other.  Let  tiie 
man  come  who  says—"  Here  I  can  discover  you  to 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL, 


97 


yonrself;  and  there!"  The  best  hints  are  obtained 
from  snarling  people.  Medicaments  make  the  patient 
smart,  but  they  heal. 

Yet  a  minister  must  not  take  this  in  the  gross.  He 
is  not  to  invite  rude  men  romid  his  door.  If  he  suffer 
Ins  hearers  to  treat  him  irreverently,  if  he  allow  Iheni  to 
dispute  with  him  on  every  occasion,  he  will  bring  ruin 
on  the  Church.  The  priest's  lips  must  keep  know- 
ledfje.  If  a  parent  allow  his  children  to  question  every 
thing,  so  that  nothing  is  to  be  settled  without  a  hundred 
proofs,  they  will  soon  despise  their  teacher,  for  they 
will  think  themselves  able  to  teach  him.  The  minister 
must  have  decided  superiority  and  authority,  or  he  will 
want  one  of  (he  principal  qualities  of  his  ministry.  This 
is  not  inconsistent  with  receiving  hints.  He  may  mis- 
take in  some  things  :  but  he  should  mark  the  complex- 
ion of  his  congregation  in  deciding  how  far  they  are  to 
be  heard  on  his  mistakes.  If  the  people  are  heady, 
f  orward,  confident  in  tlieir  own  sense,  they  are  never 
to  be  encouraged.    They  are  gone  too  far. 


ON  THE  LIMITS  WHICH  A  MINISTER  SHOULD  PUT  TO 
THE  INDULGENCE  OF  HIS  CURIOSITY  WITH  RE- 
GARD TO  PUBLIC  EXHIBITIONS. 

An  extreme  is  to  be  avoided.  Some  persons  would 
condemn  even  rational  curiosily.  But  the  works  of  the 
Lord  are  great ;  sought  out  of  all  them  that  have 
pleasure  therein.  I  would  not  object,  therefore,  to 
visit  the  museum  ;  or  to  go  to  see  the  rare  natural 
productions  often  exhibited.  I  would  enlarge,  too,  my 
I 


98 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


views  of  men  and  tlie  world  by  frequenting  the  panor- 
amas of  cities.  And  tliough  I  would  not  run  after 
every  sight,  yet  I  would  use  my  liberty  in  selecting. 
But  some  are  in  an  opposite  extreme.  TJiey  are  found 
every  where.  But  he  who  sustains  the  cliaracter  of  a 
scribe  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  ought  not  to  be 
fomid  every  where.  The  man  who  is  seeking  a  heav- 
enly country,  will  show  the  spirit  of  one  whose  con- 
versation is  there. 

There  is  something  in  religion,  when  rightly  appre- 
hended, that  is  mascuhne  and  grand.  It  removes  those 
little  desires  which  are  "  tlie  constant  hectic  of  a  fool.'' 

Every  thing  of  the  drama,  and  wliatever  is  so  dis- 
tinctly the  course  of  this  ivorld,  must  be  shunned.  If 
a  minister  take  one  step  into  the  world,  his  hearers 
will  take  two.  Much  may  be  learnt  from  the  senti- 
ments of  men  of  the  world.  If  a  man  of  this  character 
who  heard  me  preach,  should  meet  me  where  he  would 
say,  "  Why,  I  did  not  expect  to  see  you  here  — then 
he  ought  not  to  have  seen  me  there. 

There  must  be  measure  and  proportion  in  our  atten- 
tion to  arts  and  sciences.  These  were  the  very  idols 
of  the  heathen  world :  and  what  are  they,  who  now 
follow  them  with  an  idolatrous  eagerness  but  like 
children,  who  are  charmed  mlh  the  sparkling  of  a 
rocket,  and  yet  see  nothing  in  the  sun  ? 

Yet  I  would  not  indulge  a  cj-nical  temper.  If  I  go 
through  a  gentleman's  gallery  of  pictmes,  I  would  say, 
"  This  is  an  admirable  Claude  '"  but  I  would  take  oc- 
casion to  drop  a  hint  of  something  higher  and  better,  and 
to  niake  it  felt  that  1  fell  in  with  these  things  rather  in- 
cidentally than  purposely.    But  all  tins  must  be  done 


REMAINS  OF  MR,  CECIL. 


99 


witli  tenderness  and  liumility  .  "I  tread  on  the  pride 
of  Plato,"  said  Diogenes,  as  he  walked  over  Plato's 
carpet :  "Yes — and  with  more  pride,"  said  Plato. 

"  They  pass  be.st  over  the  world,"  said  queen  Eliza- 
beth, "  who  trip  over  it  quickly  :  for  it  is  but  a  bog. 
If  we  stop,  we  sink." 

I  would  not  make  it  my  criterion — "  Christ  would 
not  come  hither !"  I  must  take  a  lower  standard  in 
these  things.  I  am  a  poor  creature,  and  must  be  con- 
tented to  learn  in  many  places  and  by  many  scenes, 
which  Christ  need  not  to  have  frequented. 


ON  THE  MEANS  OF  PROMOTING  A  SPIRIT  OF  DEVO- 
TION IN  COIMGREGATIONS. 

Let  us  ask,  "  What  is  man  ?"  He  is  a  creature  of 
feeling  as  well  as  of  intellect.  We  must  interest  him 
as  we  can.  It  is  unphilosopiiical  to  depend  on  the  mere 
statement  of  truth.  No  doubt  tliere  is  a  contrary  error  : 
for  what  is  the  end  of  exciting  attention,  if  there  is  no- 
thing deserving  attention  ? 

It  is  of  the  first  importance  to  PUT  MEANING  into 
every  part  of  the  service.  In  either  extreme,  of  ap- 
pealing to  the  understanding  or  the  feelings,  there  may 
be  no  meaning  :  in  a  dull  and  lifeless  preacher,  there 
is  no  meaning  ;  and  in  one  of  a  contrary  character, 
there  may  be  nothing  worthy  of  the  name. 

There  is,  besides,  TOO  little  attention,  in  many 
churches,  TO  man  as  man.  I  would  consult  his  con- 
venience in  all  lawful  points.  If  he  could  sit  easier 
on  cushions,  he  should  have  cushions.    I  would  not  telJ 


100 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


liim  to  be  warm  in  God's  service,  while  I  leave  him  to 
sliiver  Avitli  cold.  No  doors  should  creak :  no  win- 
dows should  rattle. 

Music  has  an  important  effect  on  devotion.  Where- 
ever  fantastical  music  enters,  it  betrays  a  corrupt  prin- 
ciple, congregation  cannot  enter  into  it ;  or  if  it 
does,  it  cannot  be  a  Christian  congregation.  Where- 
ever  there  is  an  attempt  to  set  off  the  music  in  the  ser- 
vice, and  the  attempt  is  apparent,  it  is  the  first  step  to- 
ward carnality.  TJiough  there  is  too  little  life  in  the 
style  of  music  adopted  among  the  Moravians,  j  et  the 
simplicity  of  Christianity  prevades  their  devotion. 

Order  is  important.  Some  persons  by  coming  in 
when  they  please,  propagate  a  loose  habit  of  mind. 
For  man  is  a  sympathetic  creature  ;  and  what  he  sees 
others  neglect,  he  is  in  danger  of  growing  negligent  in 
himself.  If  the  reader  goes  through  the  service  as 
though  the  great  business  for  which  they  are  assembled 
is  not  yet  begun,  the  people  will  soon  feel  thus  them- 
selves. 

The  ministers  should  take  occasion  frequently  to  im- 
press on  the  people  the  importance  of  the  work  in 
which  they  are  engaged.  It  is  not  enough  to  take  it 
for  granted  that  they  feel  this.  We  must  take  nothing 
for  granted.  Man  needs  to  be  reminded  of  every  thing, 
for  he  soon  forgets  every  thing. 

Monotony  must  be,  above  all  things,  avoided.  The 
mind  is  vagrant :  monotony  cannot  recal  it.  There 
may  be  continued  vehemence,  while  the  attention  is  not 
excited  ;  it  is  disturbance  and  noise  :  there  is  nothing 
to  lead  the  mind  into  a  useful  train  of  thouglit  or  feel- 
ing. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


101 


There  is  an  opposite  error  to  vehemence.  Men  of 
sense  and  literature  depress  devotion  by  treating  things 
ABSTRACTEDLY.  Simplicity,  with  good  sense,  is  of  un- 
."^peakable  value.  Religion  must  not  be  rendered  ab- 
straxt  and  curious.  If  a  curious  remark  presents  itself, 
reserve  it  for  another  place.  The  hearer  gets  away 
from  the  bustle  and  business  of  the  week :  he  comes 
trembling  under  his  fears  :  he  would  mount  upward  in 
his  spirit :  but  a  cm-ious  etymological  disquisition  chills 
and  repels  him. 

In  truth,  we  should  be  men  of  business  in  our  congre- 
gations. We  should  endeavor  both  to  excite  and  in- 
struct our  hearers.  We  should  render  the  sei-vice  an 
interesting  affair  in  all  its  parts.  We  should  rouse  men : 
we  should  bind  up  the  broken  hearted :  we  should 
comfort  the  feeble  minded  :  we  should  support  the 
weak  :  we  should  bccoyne  all  things  to  all  men,  if  by 
any  means  ive  may  save  some. 


ON  THE  MARRIAGE  OF  CHRISTIAN  MINISTERS. 

It  seems  to  me,  that  many  men  do  not  give  sufficient 
weight  to  our  Lord's  observations  upon  those  who 
made  themselves  eunuchs  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  s 
sake,  nor  to  St.  Paul's  reasoning  on  the  subject  of  mar- 
riage. I  would  only  imply,  that  both  our  Lord  and 
tlie  apostle  seem  to  establish  it  as  a  principle,  that  a 
single  state  when  it  can  be  chosen  and  is  chosen  for  the 
sake  of  the  gospel,  is  the  superior  state.  This,  I  fear, 
is  too  mucii  forgotten  ;  and  those  men,  who  might  have 
received  the  saying,  and  have  done  more  service  to 
I  2 


102 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


the  church  of  God  by  receiving  it,  have  given  it  little  or 
no  weight  in  their  deliberations. 

And  yet  it  ought  to  be  considered,  that  the  very 
character  which  would  best  fit  men  for  living  in  a  single 
state,  would  abstract  them  too  much  from  the  feelings 
and  wants  of  their  people.  I  am  fully  sensible  that  I 
should  have  been  hardened  against  the  distresses  of  my 
hearers,  if  I  had  not  been  reduced  from  my  natural  slo- 
icism  by  domestic  sufferings. 

The  cases,  I  allow,  are  extremely  few,  in  which  a 
man  may  do,  on  the  whole,  more  service  to  the  church, 
by  imitating  St.  Paul,  than  by  marrying  :  yet  there  are 
such  cases  ;  and  it  behooves  every  minister  seriously  to 
consider  himself  and  his  situation,  before  he  determines 
on  marriage.  He  should  not  regard  this  state  as  in- 
dispensably necessary  to  him,  but  should  always  re- 
member, that,  caeteris  paribus,  he,  who  remains  sin- 
gle is  most  tvorthy  of  honor. 

But,  when  it  is  proper  that  a  minister  should  marry, 
and  he  has  determined  to  do  it,  how  few  select  such 
women  as  suit  their  high  and  holy  character  !  A  minis- 
ter is  like  a  man  who  has  undertaken  to  traverse  the 
world.  He  has  not  only  fair  and  pleasant  ground  to 
travel  over,  but  he  must  encounter  deserts  and  marsh- 
es and  mountains.  The  traveller  wants  a  firm  and 
steady  stay.  His  wife  should  be  above  all  things,  a 
woman  of  faith  and  prayer— a  woman,  too,  of  a  sound 
mind  and  of  a  tender  heart— and  one  who  will  account 
It  her  glory  to  lay  herself  out  in  co-operating  w  ilh  her 
husband  by  meeting  liis  wants  and  soothing  his  cares. 
She  should  be  his  uufaiUng  resource,  so  far  as  he  ousht 
to  seek  this  in  the  creature.  Blessed  is  she,  who  is  thus 
qualified  and  thus  lives  ! 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CLCIL. 


But  alter  all,  the  married  minister,  if  he  would  live 
devotedly,  must  move  in  a  determined  sphere.  What- 
ever Lis  wife  may  be,  yet  she  is  a  woman — and  if 
things  are  to  go  on  well,  they  must  have  two  separate 
worlds.  There  may,  indeed,  be  cases,  when  a  man 
with  something  of  a  soft  and  feminine  cast  about  his 
mind,  may  be  united  to  a  woman  of  a  mind  so  superior 
and  cultivated,  that  he  may  choose  to  make  it  his  plan 
that  they  shall  move  in  the  same  world.  In  such  rare 
cases  it  may  be  done  with  less  inconvenience  than  in 
any  other.  But,  even  here,  the  highest  end  is  sacri- 
ficed to  feeling.  Every  man,  whatever  be  his  natural 
disposition,  who  would  urge  his  poAvers  to  the  highest 
end,  must  be  a  man  of  solitary  studies.  Some  uxorious 
men  of  considerable  minds  have  moved  so  mucli  in  the 
women's  world,  that  reflection,  disquisition,  and  the  en- 
ergies of  thought,  have  been  ruined  by  the  habit  of  in- 
dulging the  lighter,  softer,  and  more  playful  qualities. 
Such  a  man  is  indeed  the  idol  of  the  female  world  ;  but 
he  would  rather  deserve  to  be  so,  if  he  stood  upon  his 
own  ground  while  he  attempted  to  meet  their  wants,  in- 
stead of  descending  to  mingle  among  them. 

God  has  put  a  difference  between  the  sexes,  but  edu- 
cation aud  manners  have  put  a  still  greater.  They 
are  designed  to  move  in  separate  spheres,  but  occasion- 
ally to  unite  together  in  order  to  soften  and  relieve 
each  other.  To  attempt  any  subversion  of  God's  de- 
sign herein,  is  being  wiser  than  He  who  made  us  ;  and 
who  has  so  established  this  affair  that  each  sex  has  ils 
separate  and  appropriate  excellence — only  to  be  at- 
tained by  pursuing  it  in  the  order  of  nature.  Thought 


104 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


is  or  oaght  to  be  the  characterizing  feature  of  the  man, 
and  feeling  that  of  the  woman. 

Every  man  and  woman  in  the  world  has  an  appropri- 
ate mind  ;  and  that  in  proportion  to  their  strength  of 
thought  and  feeling.  Each  has  a  way  of  their  own — 
a  habit — a  system— ^^i  world — separated  and  solitary — 
in  which  no  person  on  earth  can  have  communion  with 
them.  Job  says  of  God,  He  knoweth  the  way  that  I 
take  ;  and,  when  the  Christian  finds  a  want  of  compe- 
tency in  his  bosom  friend  to  understand  and  meet  his 
way,  he  turns  with  an  especial  nearness  and  familiarity 
of  confidence  to  God,  who  knoweth  it  in  all  its  connex- 
ions and  associations,  its  peculiarities  and  its  imperfec- 
tions. 

I  may  be  thought  to  speak  harshly  of  the  female 
character  ;  but  whatever  persuasion  I  have  of  its  in- 
tended distinction  from  that  of  man,  I  esteem  a  woman, 
who  aims  only  to  be  what  God  designed  her  to  be,  as 
honorable  as  any  man  on  earth.  She  stands  not  in  the 
same  order  of  excellence,  but  she  is  equally  honorable. 

But  women  have  made  themselves,  and  weak  men 
have  contributed  to  make  them,  what  God  never  de- 
signed them  to  be.  Let  any  thinking  man  survey  the 
female  character  as  it  now  stands — often  nervous,  de- 
bilitated, and  imaginative,  and  this  super-induced 
chiefly  by  education  and  manners — and  he  will  find  it 
impossible  that  any  great  vigor  of  mind  can  be  pre- 
sen  ed,  or  any  high  intellectual  pursuits  cultivated,  so 
far  as  this  character  stands  in  his  way. 

"  Doing  as  others  do,"  is  the  prevalent  principle  of 
the  present  female  character,  to  whatever  absurd,  pre- 
posterous, masculine,  or  even  ^Nicked  lengths  it  may 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


105 


lead.  Tliis  is  so  far  as  it  avai!.->  with  man  or  woman, 
the  ruin,  death,  and  grave  of  all  that  is  noble,  and  vir- 
tuous, and  praise-worthy. 

A  studious  man,  whose  time  is  chiefly  spent  at  home, 
and  eSjDecially  a  minister,  ought  not  to  meet  the  ima^ 
ginary  wants  of  his  wife.  The  disorders  of  an  imagin- 
ative mind  are  beyond  calculation.  He  is  not  ^vorthy 
the  name  of  a  husband,  who  will  not  with  delight  nurse 
his  wife,  with  all  possible  tenderness  and  love,  through 
a  real  visitation,  however  long  ;  but  he  is  ruined  if  he 
falls  upon  a  woman  of  a  sickly  fancy.  It  is  scarcely 
to  be  calculated  what  an  influence  the  spirit  of  his  wife 
will  have  on  his  own,  and  on  all  his  ministerial  affairs. 
If  she  comes  not  up  to  the  full  standard,  she  will  so  far 
impede  him,  derange  him,  unsanctify  him. 

If  there  is  such  a  thing  as  good  in  this  world,  it  is  in 
the  ministerial  ofKce.  The  afl'airs  of  tliis  employment 
are  the  greatest  in  the  world.  In  prosecuting  these 
with  a  right  spirit,  the  minister  keeps  in  motion  a  vast 
machine  ;  and,  such  are  the  incalculable  consequences 
of  his  wife's  character  to  him,  that,  if  she  assists  him  not 
in  urging  forward  the  machine,  she  will  hang  as  a  dead 
\veight  upon  its  wheels. 

A  woman  may  have  a  high  taste  :  her  natural  temper 
may  be  peevish  and  fretful :  she  may  have  a  delicate 
and  fastidious  mind  :  she  may  long  for  every  thing  she 
sees.  It  is  not  enough  that  she  is,  in  reality,  a  pious 
woman.  Her  taste,  her  mind,  her  manners,  must  have 
a  decorum  and  congruity  to  her  husband's  office  and 
situation.  She  must  bear  to  be  crossed  in  her  wishes 
for  unsuitable  objects  :  he  will  say,  with  firmness,  "  This 
shall  not  be.    It  is  not  enough,  that  it  would  gratify 


>06 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


you  :  it  is  wrong.  It  is  not  enough  that  it  is  not  fla- 
grantly sinful :  it  is  improper,  unsuitable  to  our  char- 
acter and  station.*  It  is  not  enough  tliat  money  will 
buy  it,  and  I  have  got  money  :  it  will  be  a  culpable 
use  of  our  talent.  It  is  not  enough  that  youf  friend 
possesses  such  a  thing  :  we  stand  or  fall  to  our  own 
Master." 


ON  VISITING  DEATH-BEDS. 

I  HAVE  found  it,  in  many  cases,  a  difficult  thing  to 
deal  with  a  Death-Bed.  We  are  called  in  to  death- 
beds of  various  kinds  : — 

The  true  pilgrim  sends  for  us  to  set  before  him  the 
food  on  which  he  has  fed  througliout  the  journey.  He 
has  a  keen  appetite.  He  wants  strength  and  vigor  for 
the  last  effort ;  and,  then,  all  is  forever  well  !  He  is 
gone  home,  and  is  at  rest ! 

Another  man  sends  for  us  because  it  is  decent ;  or  his 
friends  importune  him  ;  or  his  conscience  is  alarmed  : 
but  he  is  ignorant  of  sin  and  salvation  :  he  is  either  in- 
different about  both,  or  he  has  made  up  his  mind  in  bis 
own  way  :  he  wants  the  minister  to  confirm  him  in  his 
own  views,  and  smooth  over  the  wound.  I  have  seen 
such  men  mad  with  rage,  while  I  Lave  been  beating 
down  their  refuges  of  lies,  and  setting  forth  to  them 
God's  refuge.  There  is  a  wise  and  holy  medium  to  be 
observed  in  treating  such  cases  ; — "  I  am  not  come  to 
daub  you  over  with  unteinpered  mortar  :  I  am  not 

♦  Nec,  tibi  quid  liceat,  sed  quid  fecisse  decebii, 
Occuirat.  Claudun.    J.  P. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  107 

cume  to  send  you  to  the  bar  of  God  with  a  lie  in  your 
right-hand.  But  neither  am  I  come  to  mortify  you,  to 
put  you  to  unnecessary  pain,  lo  imbitter  you,  or  to  ex- 
asperate you."  There  is  a  kindness,  affection,  tender- 
ness, meekness,  and  patience,  whicli  a  man's  feelings 
and  conscience  will  condemn  liim  wliile  he  opposes  !  I 
have  found  it  a  very  effectual  method  to  begin  with  my- 
self :  it  awakens  attention,  conciliates  the  mind,  and 
insinuates  conviction  : — "  Whatever  others  think  of 
themselves,  I  stand  condemned  before  God  :  my  heart 
is  so  desperately  ivicked,  that,  if  God  had  not  showed 
me  in  liis  word  a  remedy  in  Jesus  Christ,  I  should  be 
in  despair :  1  can  Shiy  tell  you  what  I  am,  and  what  I 
have  found.  If  you  believe  yourselves  to  be  what  God 
has  told  me  I  am  and  all  men  are,  then  I  can  tell  you 
where  and  how  to  find  mercy  and  eternal  life :  if  you 
wilinot  believe  you  are  this  sort  of  man,  I  have  nothing 
to  offer  you.  I  know  of  nothing  else  for  man  beside 
that  which  God  has  showed  me."  My  descriptions  of 
ray  own  fallen  nature  have  excited  perfect  astonish- 
ment :  sometimes  my  patients  have  seemed  scaicely 
able  to  credit  me,  but  I  have  found  that  God  has  fasten- 
ed, by  this  means,  conviction  on  the  conscience.  In 
some  cases,  an  indirect  method  of  addressing  the  con- 
science may  apparently  be,  in  truth,  the  most  dii-ect ; 
but  we  are  to  use  this  method  wisely  and  sparingly. 
It  seems  to  me  to  be  one  of  the  characteristics  of  the 
day,  in  the  religious  world,  to  err  on  this  subject.  We 
have  found  out  a  circuitous, way  of  exhibiting  truth. 
The  plain,  direct,  simple  exhibition  of  it  is  often  aban- 
doned, even  where  no  circumstances  justify  and  require 
a  more  insinuating  manner.  There  is  dexterity  indeed. 


108  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  t 

*  i 

and  address  in  this  ;  but  too  little  of  the  simple  declare 
ation  of  the  testimony  of  God,  which  St.  Paul  op- 
poses to  excellency  of  speech  or  of  ivisdojn,  and  to 
enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom.  We  have  done 
very  little  when  we  have  merely  persuaded  men  to 
think  as  we  do. 

But  we  have  to  deal  with  a  worse  death-bed  charac- 
ter, than  with  the  man  who  opposes  the  truth.  Some 
men  assent  to  every  thing,  which  we  propose.  They 
will  even  anticipate  us.  And  yet  we  see  that  they 
mean  nothing.  I  have  often  felt  when  with  such  per- 
sons :  "  I  would  they  could  be  brought  to  contradict 
and  oppose  !  That  would  lead  to  discussion.  God 
might,  peradventure,  dash  the  stony  heart  in  pieces. 
But  this  heart  is  like  water.  The  impression  dies  as 
fast  as  it  is  made."  I  have  sought  tor  such  views  a.s 
might  rouse  and  stir  up  opposition.  I  have  tried  to  ir- 
ritate the  torpid  mind.  But  all  in  vain.  I  once  visited 
a  young  clergyman  of  this  character,  who  was  seized 
with  a  dangerous  illness  at  a  coflee-house  in  town,  whith- 
er some  business  had  brought  him  :  the  first  time  I  saw 
him,  we  conversed  very  closely  together ;  and,  in  the 
prospect  of  death,  he  seemed  solicitous  to  prepare  for 
it.  But  I  could  make  no  sort  of  impression  upon  him  : 
all  I  could  possibly  say  met  his  entire  approbation, 
though  I  saw  his  heart  felt  no  interest  in  it.  ■^^'hen  I 
visited  liim  a  second  time,  the  fear  of  death  was  gone  : 
and,  with  it,  all  solicitude  about  religion.  He  was  still 
civil  and  grateful,  but  he'tried  to  parry  oft  the  business 
on  which  he  knew  I  came.  "  I  will  show  you.  Sir, 
some  little  things  with  which  I  have  worn  away  the 
liours  of  my  confinement  and  solitude."    He  brought 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


109 


out  a  quantity  of  pretty  and  tasty  drawings.  I  was  at 
loss  how  to  express,  with  suitable  force  and  delicacy, 
the  high  sense  I  felt  of  his  indecorum  and  insipidity, 
and  to  leave  a  deep  impression  on  his  conscience — I 
rose,  however,  instantly — said  my  time  was  expired — • 
wished  him  well,  and  withdrew. 

Sometimes  we  have  a  painful  part  to  act  with  sincere 
men,  who  would  have  been  carried  top  much  into  the 
world.  I  was  called  in  to  visit  such  a  man.  "  I  find 
no  comfort,"  he  said.  "  God  veils  his  face  from  me. 
Every  tiling  round  me  is  dark  and  uncertain."  I  did  not 
dare  to  act  the  flatterer.  I  said — "  Let  us  look  faith- 
fully into  the  state  of  things.  I  should  have  been  sur- 
prised if  you  had  not  felt  thus.  I  believe  you  to  be 
sincere.  Your  state  of  feelings  evinces  your  sincerity. 
Had  I  found  you  exulting  in  God,  I  should  have  con- 
cluded that  you  were  either  deceived  or  a  deceiver : 
for,  while  God  acts  in  his  usual  order,  how  could  you 
expect  to  feel  otherwise  on  the  approach  of  death,  than 
you  do  feel?  You  have  driven  hard  after  the  world. 
Your  spirit  has  been  absorbed  in  its  cares.  Your  sen- 
timent— your  conversation  have  been  in  the  spirit  of  the 
Avorld.  And  have  you  any  reason  to  expect  the  res- 
ponse of  conscience,  and  the  clear  evidence  which  await 
the  man  who  has  walked  and  lived  in  the  closest  friend- 
ship with  God!  You  know  that  what  I  say  is  true." 
His  wife  interrupted  me,  by  assuring  me  that  he  had 
been  an  excellent  man.  "  Silence  !"  said  the  dying 
penitent,  "  it  is  all  time  !" 

Soon  after  I  came  to  St.  John's  I  was  called  on  to 
visit  a  dying  lady,  whom  I  saw  many  times  before  her 
death.    I  found  that  she  had  taken  God  for  her  portion 

K 


no 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


and  rest.  She  approaclied  liim  witli  the  penitence  of  a 
sinner  grateful  for  liis  provision  of  mercy  in  Christ.  Slie 
told  me  she  had  found  religion  in  her  Common  Prayer 
Book.  She  blessed  God  that  she  had  "always  been 
kept  steady  to  her  church  ;  and  that  she  had  never  fol- 
lowed the  people  called  Methodists,  who  were  seducing 
so  many  on  all  sides."  I  thought  it  would  be  unadvise- 
able  to  attempt  the  removal  of  prejudices,  which,  in  her 
dying  case,  were  harmless,  and  which  would  soon  be 
removed  by  the  light  which  would  beam  in  on  her  glo- 
rified soul.  We  had  more  interesting  subjects  of  con- 
versation, from  which  this  would  have  led  us  away. 
Some  persons  may  tax  her  with  a  want  of  charity  :  but, 
alas  !  I  fear  they  are  persons,  Avho  knowing  more  than 
she  did  of  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  have  so  little  of 
its  divine  charity  in  their  hearts,  that,  as  they  cannot 
allow  for  her  prejudices,  neither  would  they  have  been 
the  last  to  stigmatize  her  as  a  dead  formalist  and  a 
pharisee.  God  knoweth  them  that  are  his  ;  and  they 
are  often  seen  by  him,  where  we  see  them  not.  Were 
a  benighted  inhabitant  of  Otaheile  to  feel  the  wTetched- 
ness  of  his  present  life,  and  lift  up  his  soul  to  the  God  he 
worshipped  as  a  Supreme  Being  for  happiness,  no  doubt 
God  would  heai"  such  a  prayer. 


MISCELLANEOUS  REMARKS  ON  THE  CHRISTIAN  MINISTRY. 

Every  book  really  worth  a  minister's  studying  he 
ought,  if  possible,  to  have  in  his  own  library.  I  have 
used  large  libraries,  but  I  soon  left  them.  Time  wa.s 
frittered  away  :  my  mind  was  unconcentrated.  Be- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CtCIL. 


Ill 


sides,  (lie  habit  which  it  begets  of  tui-ning  over  a  multi- 
tude  of  books  is  a  pernicious  habit.  And  the  usual 
contents  of  such  libraries  are  injurious  to  a  spiritujvl 
man,  whose  business  it  is  to  transact  with  men's 
minds.  They  have  a  dry,  cold,  deadening  effect.  It 
may  suit  dead  men  to  walk  among  the  dead  ;  but  send 
not  a  living  man  to  be  chilled  among  the  ruins  of  Tad- 
mor  in  the  wilderness  ! 

Christianity  is  so  great  and  surprising  in  its  nature, 
that,  in  preaching  it  to  others,  1  have  no  encouragement 
but  the  belief  of  a  continued  divine  operation.  It  is 
no  difhcult  thing  to  change  a  man's  opinions.  It  is  no 
difficult  tiling  to  attach  a  man  to  my  person  and  notions. 
It  is  no  difficult  thing  to  convert  a  proud  man  to  spirit- 
ual pride,  or  a  passionate  man  to  passionate  zeal  for 
some  religious  party.  But,  to  bring  a  man  to  love  God 
— to  love  the  law  of  God,  while  it  condemns  him — to 
loath  himself  before  God — to  tread  the  earth  under  his 
feet — to  hunger  and  thirst  after  God  in  Christ,  and  af- 
ter the  mind  that  was  in  Christ — with  man  this  is  im- 
possible !  But  God  has  said  it  shall  be  done  :  and 
bids  me  go  forth  and  preach,  that  by  me  as  his  instru- 
ment, he  may  effect  these  great  ends  ;  and  therefore  I 
go. — Yet  I  am  obUged  continually  to  call  my  mind 
back  to  my  principles.  I  feel  angry,  perhaps,  with  a 
H)an,  because  he  will  not  let  me  convert  him  :  in  spite 
of  all  1  can  say,  he  will  still  love  the  world. 

St.  Paul  admonishes  Timothy  to  eiulure  hardness 
as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.  It  sometimes  falls 
to  the  lot  of  a  minister  to  endure  the  hard  labor  of  a 
nurse,  in  a  greater  measure  than  that  of  a  soldier.  He 


112 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


has  to  encgunter  the  difficuKies  of  a  peculiar  situation  : 
he  is  the  parent  of  a  family  of  children,  of  various  tem- 
pers, manners,  habits,  and  prejudices  :  if  he  does  not 
continually  mortify  himself,  he  will  bear  hardly  upon 
some  of  his  childi-en. — He  has,  however  to  endure  the 
hardness  of  calling  his  child,  his  friend,  to  an  account : 
of  being  thought  a  severe,  jealous,  legal  man.  If  a 
man  will  let  matters  take  their  chance,  he  may  live 
smoothly  and  quietly  enough  ;  but  if  he  will  stir  among 
the  servants,  and  sift  things  to  the  bottom,  he  must 
bear  the  consequences.  He  must  account  himself  a 
Man  of  Strife.  His  language  must  be — "  It  is  not 
enough  that  you  feed  me,  or  fill  my  pocket — there  is 
something  between  me  and  thee."  The  most  tender 
and  delicate  of  his  flock  have  tiieir  failings.  His  w  arm- 
est  and  most  zealous  supporters  break  down  some 
where.  A  sun-sliiny  day  breeds  most  reptiles.  It  is 
not  enough,  therefore,  that  the  sun  shines  out  in  Lis 
church.   It  is  not  enough  that  numbers  shout  applause. 

A  minister  may  be  placed  in  a  discouraging  situation. 
He  may  not  suit  the  popular  taste.  He  may  not  be 
able  to  fall  into  the  lashionable  sljle.  He  may  not 
play  well  on  an  instruiaeid.  Tliough  an  etl'ective 
man,  and  a  man  of  energy,  he  may  be  under  a  cloud. 
The  door  may  be  shut  against  him.  Yet  it  is  a  dan- 
gerous thing  lor  such  a  man  to  force  open  the  door. 
He  should  rather  say — "  I  have  a  lesson  to  learn  here. 
If  I  teach  the  people  nothing,  periiaps  they  may  teach 
me."  The  work  of  winter  is  to  be  done,  as  well  as 
the  work  of  summer. 

Tiie  hardness  which  I  have  to  endure  is  this — Here 
are  a  immber  of  families  which  show  me  every  kind  o/ 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


113 


regard.  But  1  see  that  they  are  not  right.  They 
somehow  so  combine  the  tilings  which  they  hear,  with 
the  things  which  they  do,  that  I  am  .  afraid  they  will 
at  last  lie  down  in  sorrow  !  Here  is  my  difficulty.  I 
must  meet  them  with  gentleness  ;  but  I  must  detect  and 
uncover  the  evil.  I  shall  want  real  kindness  and  com- 
mon honesty,  if  I  do  not.  Ephraim  hath  gray  hairs  ; 
yet  he  knoweth  it  not.  Ephraim  is  a  cake  not  turn- 
ed. But,  if  I  tell  him  these  things,  he  and  I  shall  be- 
come two  persons.  He  must,  however,  be  so  touched 
in  private  ;  for  he  will  not  be  touched  in  the  pulpit. 
He  will  say  I  am  not  tlie  man." 

A  MINISTER  must  keep  under  his  body  and  bring  it 
into  subjection.  A  Newmarket  groom  will  sweat  him- 
self thin,  that  he  may  be  fit  for  his  office  :  Now  they  do 
it  to  obtain  a  corruptible  crown  ;  but  ive,  an  incor- 
ruptible I 

 is  come  from  college.  He  has  a  refined,  accu- 
rate, sensible  mind.  Some  of  our  friends  wished  to  get 
him  a  station  at  Calcutta.  They  think  him  just  adapted 
for  that  sphere.  I  differ  widely  in  my  view  of  the  mat- 
ter. A  new  man,  with  his  college  accuracy  about 
him,  is  not  the  man  for  the  dissipated  and  fashionable 
court  at  Calcutta.  Such  a  congregation  will  bid  noth- 
ing for  his  acuteness  and  reasoning. — He,  who  is  to 
talk  to  them  with  any  eflect,  must  have  seen  life  and  the 
world.  He  must  be  able  to  treat  with  them  on  their 
own  ground.  And  he  must  be  able  to  do  it  with  the  au- 
thority of  a  messenger  from  God,  not  with  the  arts  and 
shifts  of  human  eloquence  and  reasonings.  Dr.  Patten 
said  admirably  well,  in  a  sermon  which  I  heard  him 
K  2 


114 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


preach  at  Oxford  ;  "  Beware  how  you  suffer  the  infidel 
to  draw  you  upon  metaphysical  ground.  If  he  get  you 
there,  lie  will  have  something  to  say.  The  evidences 
and  the  declarations  of  God's  words  are  the  weapons 
with  which  he  must  be  combatted,  and  before  which  he 
must  fall." 

London  is  very  peculiar  as  a  ministerial  \va\k.  Al- 
most all  a  minister  can  do,  is  by  the  pulpit  and  the  pen. 
His  hearers  are  so  occupied  in  the  world,  that  if  he  visit 
them,  every  minute  perhaps  brings  in  some  interrup- 
tion. 

It  is  a  serious  question — Whether  a  minister  ought 
to  preach  at  all  beyond  his  experience. — He  is  to 
stand  forth  as  a  witness — but  a  witness  of  tvhat  he 
KNOWS,  not  of  what  he  has  been  told.  He  must  preach 
as  he  feels.  If  he  feels  not  as  he  might  and  ought,  he 
must  pray  for  such  feehngs  ;  but,  till  he  has  them,  ouglit 
he  to  pretend  to  them  ?  Going  faster  than  the  experi- 
ence led,  has  been  Ihe  bane  of  many.  Men  have  preach- 
ed in  certain  terms  and  plu-ases  according  to  the  tone 
given  by  others,  while  the  thing  has  never  been  made 
out  even  to  their  conviction,  much  less  in  their  experi- 
ence. 

It  is  a  most  important  point  of  duty,  in  a  minister  to 
REDEEM  TIME.  A  young  minister  has  sometimes  called 
an  old  one  out  of  his  study,  only  to  ask  him  how  he 
did:  there  is  a  tone  to  be  observed  toward  such  an  idler; 
an  intimation  may  be  given,  wliich  he  will  understand, 
"  This  is  not  the  house  !"  In  order  to  redeem  time,  he 
must  refuse  to  engage  in  secular  affairs  :  No  ninii  tliat 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


115 


warretk'  entangleth  himself  with  the  affairs  of  this 
life,  that  he  may  please  Him  v)ho  hath  chosen  him 
to  be  a  soldier.  He  must  watch,  too,  against  a  dozing 
away  of  time  :  the  clock-weight  goes  down  slowly,  yet 
it  draws  all  the  works  with  it. 


Owen  remarks,  that  it  is  not  sufficiently  considered 
how  much  a  minister's  personal  religion  is  exposed  to 
danger  from  the  very  circumstance  of  religion  being 
his  profession  and  employment.  He  must  go  through 
the  acts  of  religion :  he  nmst  put  on  the  appearances 
of  rehgion  :  he  must  utter  the  language  and  display  the 
feelings  of  religion.  It  requires  double  diligence  and 
vigilance  to  maintain,  under  such  circumstances,  the 
spirit  of  religion.  I  have  prayed  :  I  have  talked  :  I 
have  preached  :  but  now  I  should  perish,  after  all,  if  I 
did  not  feed  on  the  bread  which  I  have  broken  to 
others. 

A   MINISTER  must  CULTIVATE  A  TENDER  SPIRIT.  If 

he  does  this  so  as  to  carry  a  savour  and  unction  into  his 
work,  he  will  have  far  more  weight  than  other  men. 
This  is  the  result  of  a  devotional  habit.  To  aftect  feel- 
ing is  nauseous  and  soon  detected  ;  but  to  feel,  is  the 
readiest  way  to  the  hearts  of  others. 


The  leading  defect  in  Clirisfian  ministers  is  want  of 
a  DEVOTIONAL  HABIT.  The  church  of  Rome  made 
much  of  this  habit.  The  contests  accompanying  and 
follomng  the  Reformation,  with  something  of  an  indis- 
criminate enmity  against  some  of  the  good  of  that 
church  as  well  as  the  evil,  combined  to  repress  this  spirit 


116 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


in  the  Protestant  writings  ;  whereas  the  mind  of  Christ 
seems,  in  fact,  to  be  the  grand  end  of  Christianity  in  its 
operation  upon  man. 

There  is  a  manifest  want  of  spiritual  influence  on 
the  ministry  of  the  present  day.  I  feel  it  in  my  own 
case,  and  I  see  it  in  that  of  others.  I  am  afraid  that 
there  is  too  much  of  a  low,  managing,  contriving,  man- 
ceuvering  temper  of  mind  among  us.  We  are  laying 
ourselves  out,  more  than  is  expedient,  to  meet  one  man's 
taste,  and  another  man's  prejudices.  The  ministry  is 
a  grand  and  lioly  aflair,  and  it  sliould  find  in  us  a  sim- 
ple habit  of  spirit,  and  a  holy  but  humble  indifference 
to  all  consequences. 

A  MAN  of  the  world  ■«  ill  bear  to  hear  me  read  in  the 
desk  that  awful  passage  :  Wide  is  the.  gate,  and  broad 
is  the  ivaij  that  leadcfh  to  destruction  ;  and  many 
there  he  which  go  in  thereat :  Because  strait  is  the 
gate,  and  narroio  is  the  way  ivhich  leadeth  unio 
life;  and  few  there  be  that  find  it.  Nay,  he  will  ap- 
js  ove  it  : — "  The  minister  is  in  the  desk  :  he  is  reading 
the  lesson  of  the  day."  But  tliis  very  man — were  I  to 
go  home  with  him,  and  tell  him  in  his  parlour  that  most 
of  those  whom  he  knows  and  loves  are  going  on  in  that 
road  to  eternal  destruction — this  very  man  would  brand 
the  sentiment  as  harsh  and  uncharitable.  Though  ut- 
tered by  Clnist  himself,  it  is  a  declaration  as  fanatical 
and  uncandid,  in  the  judgment  of  the  world,  as  could 
be  put  together  in  language. 


Many  hearers  cannot  enter  into  the  reasons  of  the 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


117 


Cross.  They  adopt  what  I  think  is  Butler's  grand  de- 
fect on  this  subject.  He  speaks  of  tlie  Cross  as  an  ap- 
pointment of  God,  and  therefore  to  be  submitted  to  : 
but  God  lias  said  much  in  his  word  of  the  reasons  of 
this  appointment:  that  he  might  be  just,  and  the  jus- 
tifie.r  of  him  that  believeth. 


Several  things  are  required,  to  enable  a  minister  to 
attain  a  proper  variety  in  his  manner.  He  must  be  in 
continual  practice.:  if  I  were  to  preach  but  once  a 
month,  I  should  lose  the  ability  of  preaching.  He 
must  know  that  his  hearers  are  attached  to  him — that 
they  will  grant  liim  indulgences  and  liberties.  He  nmst, 
in  some  measure,  feel  himself  above  his  congregation. 
Tlie  presence  of  a  certain  brother  chills  me  :  because  I 
feel  that  I  can  talk  on  no  one  subject  in  the  pulpit,  m  ith 
which  he  is  not  far  better  acquainted  than  I  am. 

The  first  duty  of  a  minister,  is.  To  call  on  his  hear- 
ers to  turn  to  the  Lord.  "  We  have  much  to  speak 
to  you  upon.  We  have  many  duties  to  urge  on  you. 
We  have  much  instmction  to  give  you — but  all  will  be 
thrown  away,  till  you  have  turned  to  the  Lord.^''  Let 
me  illustrate  this  by  a  familiar  comparison.  You  see 
your  child  sinking  in  the  water  :  his  education  lies  near " 
your  heart :  you  are  anxious  to  train  him  up  so,  that  he 
may  occupy  well  the  post  assigned  to  him  in  hfe.  But, 
v.hen  you  see  him  drowning,  the  first  thoughts  are — not 
how  you  may  educate  him,  but  how  you  may  save  him. 
Restore  him  to  life,  and  then  call  that  life  into  action. 

A  DISINTERESTED  regard  to  truth  should  be,  what  it 


118 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


veiy  seldom  is,  the  most  striking  character  in  a  Cliris- 
tian  minister.  His  purpose  should  be  to  make  prose- 
lytes to  truth,  and  not  to  any  tiling  wliicli  may  be  par- 
ticular in  his  views  of  it.  "  Read  my  books,"  says  one. 
— "  No  !"  says  another,  "  read  mine."  And  thus  re- 
ligion is  taken  up  by  piece-meal ;  and  the  mind  is  di- 
verted from  its  true  nature  by  false  associations.  If  the 
teacher  whom  this  man  has  chosen  for  his  oracle,  dis- 
grace religion  by  irreligious  conduct,  he  stumbles.  He 
stumbles,  because  he  has  not  been  fixed  upon  the  sole 
and  immoveable  basis  of  the  religion  of  the  Bible. 
The  mind,  well  instructed  in  the  Scriptures,  can  bear 
to  see  even  its  spiritual  father  make  shipwreck  of  the 
faith  and  scandalize  tlie  gospel ;  but  will  remain  itself 
unmoved.  The  man  is  in  possession  of  a  treasure, 
which,  if  others  are  foolish  enough  to  abandon,  yet  they 
cannot  detract  any  thing  from  the  value  attached  to  it 
in  his  esteem. 


That  a  minister  may  learn  how  to  magnify  his  of- 
fice, let  him  study  the  cliaracter,  the  spirit,  and  the  his- 
tory of  St.  Paul.  His  life  and  death  were  one  magni- 
fying of  his  office  :  mark  his  object — to  win  souls  ! — to 
execute  the  will  of  God  !  As  the  man  rises  in  his  o^n 
esteem  his  office  sinks  ;  but  as  the  office  rises  in  his  view, 
the  man  falls.  He  must  be  in  constant  hostility  with 
himself,  if  he  would  magnify  his  office.  He  must  hold 
himself  in  readiness  to  make  sacrifices,  when  called  to 
do  so":  he  will  not  barter  his  office,  hke  Balaam  ;  but 
will  rel'use  to  sell  liis  service,  like  Michaiaii.  Like  Ez- 
ra and  Neheniiah,  he  will  refuse  to  come  down  from  the 
great  work  which  he  Ixas  to  do.   He  may  be  calumnia- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CKCIL. 


119 


ted  ;  l)ut  lie  will  avoid  hasty  vindications  of  his  charac- 
ter :  it  does  not  appear  that  Elisha  sent  after  Naaman 
to  vindicate  himself  from  the  falsehoods  of  Gehazi : 
there  appears  to  me  much  true  dignity  in  this  conduct : 
I  fear  I  should  have  wanted  patience  to  act  thus. 

Some  young  ministers  have  been  greatly  injured^  by 
taking  up  their  creed  from  a  sort  of  second  or  third  rate 
writers.  Toplady,  perhaps,  has  said  that  he  has  found 
his  preaching  most  successful,  when  it  has  turned  on 
the  grand  doctrines  of  Calvinism.  A  young  man  ad- 
mires Toplady,  and  adopts  the  same  notion  concerning 
his  own  ministry.  But  let  him  turn  to  a  master  on  the 
subject.  He  will  tind  such  a  man  as  Traill  handling 
the  sovereignty  of  God,  and  such  high  points  of  doctrine 
M'ith  a  holy  and  heavenly  sweetness;  which,  while  it 
renders  it  almost  impossible  not  to  receive  his  senti- 
ments, leaves  nothing  on  the  mind  but  a  religious  savor. 

The  grand  aim  of  a  minister  must  be  the  exhibition 
OF  GOSPEL  TRUTH.  Statesmen  may  make  the  greatest 
blunders  in  the  world,  but  that  is  not  his  affair.  Like 
a  King's  messenger,  he  must  not  stop  to  take  care  of 
a  person  fallen  down :  if  he  can  render  any  kindness 
consistently  with  his  duty,  he  will  do  it ;  if  not,  he  will 
prefer  his  oflice. 

Our  method  of  preaching  is  not  that  by  which  Chris- 
tianity was  propagated  :  yet  the  genius  of  Christianity 
is  not  changed.  There  was  nothing  in  the  primitive 
method  set  or  formal.  The  primitive  bishop  stood  up, 
and  read  the  gospel,  or  some  other  portion  of  Scrip- 


120 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


ture,  and  pressed  on  the  hearers,  ^vith  great  earnestness 
and  affection,  a  few  plain  and  forcible  truths  evidently 
resulting  from  that  portion  of  the  Divine  Word  :  we 
take  a  text,  and  make  an  oration.  Edification  was 
then  the  object  of  both  speaker  and  hearers  ;  and,  while 
this  continues  to  be  the  object,  no  better  method  can  be 
found.  A  parable,  or  history,  or  passage  of  Scripture, 
thus  illustrated  and  enforced,  is  the  best  method  of  in- 
troducing truth  to  any  people  who  are  ignorant  of  it, 
and  of  setting  it  home  with  power  on  those  who  know 
it ;  and  not  formal,  doctrinal,  argumentative  discourses. 
Truth  and  simplicity  are  the  soul  of  an  eflScacious 
ministry. 

The  Puritans  were  still  farther  removed  from  the 
primitive  method  of  preaching  :  they  would  jireach  fif- 
teen or  sixteen  sermons  on  a  text.  A  primitive  bishop 
would  have  been  shocked  with  one  of  our  sermons  ; 
and,  such  is  our  taste,  we  should  be  shocked  with  his. 
They  brought  forward  Scripture  :  we  bring  forward 
our  statements.  They  directed  all  their  observations 
to  throw  light  on  Scripture :  we  quote  Scripture  to 
throw  light  on  our  observations.  More  faith  and  more 
grace  would  naake  us  better  preachers  ;  for  out  of  the 
abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth  speaketh.  Chrys- 
ostom's  was  the  right  method.  Leighton's  Lectures  on 
Peter  approach  very  near  to  this  method. 

In  acting  on  matter,  the  art  of  man  is  mighty.  The 
steam-engine  is  a  mighty  machine.  But,  in  religion, 
the  art  of  man  is  mere  feebleness.  The  armor  of  Saul 
is  armor  in  the  camp  of  the  Israehtes,  or  in  the  camp  of 
the  PliiUstines — ^but  we  want  the  sling  and  the  stone. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


121 


I  honor  Metaphysician;?,  Logicians,  Critics,  and  Histo- 
rians— in  their  places.  Look  at  facts.  Men,  who  lay- 
out their  strength  in  statements,  preach  churches  emp- 
ty. Few  men  have  a  wisdom  so  large,  as  to  see  that 
the  way  which  they  cannot  attain  may  yet  be  the  best 
way  I  dare  not  tell  most  academical,  logical,  frigid 
men  how  little  I  account  of  their  opinion,  concerning  the 
true  method  of  preaching  to  the  popular  ear.  I  hear 
them  talk,  as  utterly  incompetent  judges.  Such  men 
would  have  said  St.  Paul  was  fit  only  for  the  tabernacle. 
\^'hat  he  would  have  said  they  were  fit  for,  I  cannot 
tell.  They  are  often  great  men — first-rate  men — une- 
qualled men — in  their  class  and  sphere  :  but  it  is  not 
THEIR  sphere  to  manage  tlie  world. 

If  a  minister  could  work  miracles,  he  would  do  Uttle 
more  than  interest  tiie  curiosity  of  men. — "  1  want  to 
eat,  and  I  want  to  drink,  and  I  doit :  I  get  on  with  difK- 
culty  enougli,  as  things  are  ;  and  you  talk  about  treat- 
ing with  heaven  !  1  know  nothing  of  the  matter,  and  I 
want  no  such  thing" — This  is  the  language  of  man's 
heart.  A  future  thing  !  An  indefinitely  future 
thing!  No!  if  a  man  could  even  authoritatively  de- 
clare, that  the  day  of  judgment  would  be  this  day  sev- 
en years,  he  would  have  little  influence  on  mankind. 
Very  few  would  be  driven  from  the  play-house — very 
few  from  the  gaming  table — very  few  from  the  brothel. 
The  din  on  'Change  would  be  very  little  diminished. 
I  frequently  look  back  on  the  early  periods  of  my  life, 
and  imagine  myself  treating  with  such  a  character  as  I 
know  I  then  was.    I  say  to  myself,  "  What  now  can  I 


122 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


possibly  say  that  will  affect  and  interest  that  young  fel- 
of  eighteen  ?" 

Some  Christian  ministers  fail  'in  their  effect  on  their 
hearers,  by  not  entering  as  philosophers  into  the  state 
of  human  natui'e.  They  do  not  consider  how  low  the 
patient  is  reduced — that  he  is  to  be  treated  more  as  a 
child — that  he  is  to  have  milk  administered  to  him,  in- 
stead of  strong  meat.  They  set  themselves  to  plant 
principles  and  prove  points,  when  they  should  labor  to 
interest  the  heart.  But,  after  all,  men  will  caiTy  their 
natmal  character  into  their  ministry.  If  a  man  has  a 
dry,  logical,  scholastic  turn  of  mind,  we  shall  rarely 
find  him  an  interesting  preacher.  One  in  a  thousand 
may  meet  him,  but  not  more. 

The  Christian  will  sometimes  be  brought  to  walk  in 
a  solitary  path.  God  seems  to  cut  away  his  props,  that 
he  may  reduce  him  to  himself.  His  rehgion  is  to  be 
felt  as  a  personal,  particular,  appropriate  possession. 
He  is  to  feel,  that,  as  there  is  but  one  Jehovah  to  bless, 
so  there  seems  to  him  as  though  there  were  but  one  pen- 
itent in  tlie  universe  to  be  blessed  by  Him.  Mary  Mag- 
dalene at  the  sepulchre  was  brouglit  to  this  state.  She 
might  have  said,  "  I  know  not  where  Peter  is :  he  is  gone 
away — perhaps  into  the  world — perliaps  to  weep  over 
Ids  fall.  I  know  not  where  John  is.  ^\'hat  are  the  feel- 
ings and  states  of  my  brethren,  I  know  not.  I  ain  left 
here  alone.  No  one  accompanies  and  strengthens  me. 
But  if  none  other  will  seek  my  Lord,  yet  will  I  seek 
him!"  There  is  a  commanding  energy  in  rehgious  sym- 
pathy.   A  minister,  for  example,  while  his  preacliing 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


123 


seems  effective,  and  life  and  feeling  show  themselves 
aro\uid  him,mo\^es  on  with  ease  and  pleasure.  But  there 
is  much  of  the  man  here.  If  God  change  the  scene— if 
discouragements  meet  him — if  he  seem  to  be  laid  by,  in 
any  measiu-e,  as  an  instrument— if  the  love  of  his  hear- 
ers to  his  person  and  ministry  decay — this  is  a  severe 
trial ;  yet  most  of  us  need  tiiis  trial,  that  we  may  be  re- 
duced simply  to  Go  l,  and  may  feel  that  the  whole  af- 
fair is  between  liim  and  ourselves.  A  dead  hsh  will  swim 
with  the  stream,  whatever  be  its  direction  :  But  a  living 
one  will  not  only  resist  the  stream  ;  but,  if  it  chooses,  it 
can  swim  against  it.  The  soul  that  lives  from  God,  will 
seek  God,  and  follow  God — nmre  easily  and  pleasantly, 
indeed,  if  tlie  stream  flow  toward  the  point  whither  God 
leads  j  but  still,  it  will  follow  God  as  its  sole  rest  and 
centre,  thougli  the  stream  of  men  and  opinions  would 
Imrry  it  away  from  hini. 

Gravity  is,  doubtless,  obligatory  on  ministers.  The 
apostle  connects  it  av  ith  simplicity.  Yet  it  must  be  na- 
tural— not  affected.  Some  men  give  every  thing  in  an 
oracular  style  :  this  looks  like  affectation,  and  will  dis- 
gust others  :  they  will  attribute  it  to  religion  :  but  this 
is  not  a  sanctified  gravity.  Other  men  are  always  dis- 
posed to  levity  :  not  that  a  man  of  original  fancy  is  to 
be  condemned  for  tliinking  in  his  own  way  :  but  the 
minister  must  consider  that  he  is  a  man  of  a  consecrated 
character  :  ii'  it  should  not  be  diiHcult  to  himself  to 
make  transitions  from  levity  to  gravity,  it  will  be  difli- 
cult  to  carry  others  with  him  therein.  Who  has  not 
felt,  if  God  brings  him  into  a  trying  situation,  in  which 
he  sees  that  it  is  an  awful  thing  to  suffer  or  to  die,  that 


124 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


gravity  is  then  natural  ?  every  thing  else  is  offensive  ! 
That,  too,  is  evil,  which  lets  down  the  -tone  of  a  com- 
pany :  when  a  minister  loses  his  gravity,  tlie  company 
will  take  liberties  with  him.  Yet,  with  a  right  principle, 
we  must  not  play  the  fool.  Gravity  must  be  natural 
and  simple.  There  must  be  urbanity  and  tenderness 
in  it.  A  man  must  not  formalize  on  every  thing.  He 
who  formalizes  on  every  thing,  is  a  fool  ;  and  a  grave 
fool  is  perhaps  more  injurious  than  a  light  fool. 

We  are  called  to  build  a  spiritual  house.  One  work- 
man is  not  to  busy  himself  in  telling  another  his  duty. 
We  are  placed  in  different  circumstances,  with  various 
talents  :  and  each  is  called  to  do  what  he  can.  Two 
men,  equally  accepted  of  God,  may  be  exceedingly 
distinct  in  the  account  which  they  will  gi\  e  of  tiieir 
employ. 

A  regular  clergyman  can  do  no  more  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duty,  than  our  church  requires  of  hini. 
He  may  fall  far  short  of  her  requirements  ;  but  he  can- 
not exceed,  by  the  most  devoted  life,  the  duties  which 
he  has  prescribed.  What  man  on  eaith  is  so  pernici- 
ous a  drone  as  an  idle  clergyman  !— a  man,  engaged 
in  the  most  serious  profession  in  the  world :  who  rises 
to  eat,  and  drink,  and  lounge,  and  trifle  :  and  goes  to 
bed  ;  and  then  rises  again,  (o  do  the  same  !  Our 
oflice  is  the  most  laborious  in  the  world.  The  mind 
must  be  always  on  the  stretch,  to  acquire  wisdom  and 
grace,  and  to  communicate  them  to  all  who  come  near. 
It  is  well,  indeed,  when  a  clergyman  of  genius  and 
learning  devotes  himself  to  the  publication  of  classics 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


125 


and  works  of  literature,  if  lie  cannot  be  prevailed  on  to 
turn  l)is  genius  and  learnins;  to  a  more  important  end. 
Enter  into  this  kind  of  society,  what  do  you  hear? — 
"  Have  you  seen  tiie  new  edition  of  Sophocles  ?" — 
"  No  !  is  a  new  edition  of  Sophocles  undertaken  ?" — 
and  this  makes  up  the  conversation,  and  these  are  the 
ends  of  men  who,  by  profession,  should  win  souls  !  I 
received  a  most  useful  hint  from  Dr.  Bacon,  then  Father 
of  the  University,  when  I  was  at  College.  I  used  fre- 
quently to  %  isit  him  at  his  Living  near  Oxford  :  he  would 
say  to  me,  "  What  are  you  doing  ?  What  are  your 
studies  ?" — "  I  am  reading  so  and  so." — "  You  are  quite 
wrong.  When  I  was  young  I  could  turn  any  piece  of 
Hebrew  into  Greek  verse  with  ease.  But,  when  I  cajue 
into  this  parish,  and  had  to  teach  ignorant  people,  I 
was  wholly  at  a  loss  :  I  liad  no  furniture.  They 
thought  me  a  great  man,  but  that  was  their  ignorance  ; 
for  I  knew  as  Jittle  as  they  did,  of  what  it  was  most  im- 
portant for  them  to  know.  Study  chiefly  what  you  can 
tm-n  to  good  account  in  your  future  life."  And  yet  this 
wise  man  had  not  just  views  of  serious  religion ;  he 
was  one  of  those  who  are  for  reforming  the  parish — 
making  the  maids  industrious,  and  the  men  sober  and 
honest — but  when  I  ventured  to  ask,  "  Sir,  must  not 
all  this  be  effected  by  the  infusion  of  a  divine  principle 
into  the  mind  ?  a  union  of  the  soul  with  the  great  head 
of  influence  ?" — "  No  more  of  that — no  more  of  that,  I 
pray  !" 

A  WISE  minister  stands  between  practical  Atheism 
and  religious  enthusiasm. 

l2 


126 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


A  SERMON  that  has  more  head  infused  into  it  than 
heart,  ivill  not  come  home  witli  efficacy  to  the  hearers. 
"  You  must  do  so  and  so  :  such  and  such  consequences 
will  follow  if  you  do  not :  such  and  such  advantages 
will  result  from  doing  it :" — this  is  cold,  dead  and  spir- 
itless, when  it  stands  alone  ;  or  even  when  it  is  most 
prominent.  Let  the  preacher's  liead  be  stored  with 
wisdom  ;  but,  above  all,  let  his  heart  so  feel  his  subject, 
that  he  may  infuse  life  and  interest  into  it,  by  speaking 
like  one  who  actually  possesses  and  feels  what  he  says. 

Faith  is  the  master-spring  of  a  minister.  "  Hell  is 
before  me,  and  thousands  of  souls  shut  up  there  in  ever- 
lasting agonies — Jesus  Clunst  stands  forth  to  save  men 
from  rushing  into  this  bottomless  abyss — He  sends  me 
to  proclaim  his  ability  and  his  love :  I  want  no  fourth 
idea  ! — every  fourth  idea  is  contemptible  !  every  fourth 
idea  is  a  grand  impertinence  !" 

The  meanness  of  the  earthen  vessel,  which  conveys  to 
others  tiie  Gospel  treasure,  takes  nothing  from  the  value 
of  the  treasure.  A  dying  hand  may  sign  a  deed  of  gift 
of  incalculable  value.  A  shepherd's  boy  may  point  out 
the  way  to  a  philosopher.  A  beggar  may  be  the  bear- 
er of  an  invaluable  present. 

A  WRITER  of  sermons  has  often  no  idea  ho^V  many 
words  he  uses,  to  which  the  common  people  affix  either 
no  meaning,  or  a  false  one.  He  speaks,  perhaps,  of 
"  relation  to  God  ;"  but  the  people,  who  hear  him,  affix 
no  other  idea  to  the  word,  than  that  of  father,  or  broth- 
er, or  relative.  The  preacher  must  converse  with  the 
people,  that  he  may  acquire  their  words  and  phrases. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIt. 


127 


It  sometimes  pleases  God  to  disqualify  ministers  for 
their  work,  before  he  takes  them  to  their  reward. 
Where  he  gives  them  wisdom  to  perceive  this,  and 
grace  to  acquiesce  in  the  dispensation — such  a  close  of 
an  honorable  life,  where  the  desire  to  be  pubUcly  use- 
ful survives  the  power,  is  a  loud  amen  to  all  former 
labors. 


ON  INFIDELITY  AND  POPERY. 

Infidel  writings  are  ultimately  productive  of  UAe  or 
no  danger  to  the  church  of  God.  Nay  we  are  less  at 
a  loss  in  judging  of  the  wisdom  of  Providence  in  peimit- 
ting  them,  than  we  are  in  judging  of  many  other  of  its 
designs.  They  may  shake  the  simple,  humble,  spirit- 
ual mind  but  they  are  in  the  end,  the  means  of  enlighten- 
ing and  settling  it. 

There  ai'e  but  two  sorts  of  people  in  the  world.  Some 
walk  by  the  light  of  the  Lord,  and  all  others  lie  in 
the  tcicked  one  in  darkness  and  in  the  shadow  of 
death.  Where  there  is  not  an  enlightened,  simple, 
humble,  spiritual  mind,  notions  and  opinions  are  of  little 
consequence.  The  impudent  and  refuted  misrepresen- 
tations of  infidels  may  turn  a  dark  mind  to  some  other 
notions  and  way  of  thinking  ;  but  it  is  in  the  dark  still. 
Till  a  man  sees  by  the  light  of  the  Lord,  every  change 
of  opinions  is  only  putting  a  new  dress  on  a  dead  car- 
case, and  calling  it  alive. 

The  grace  of  God  must  give  simplicity.  Wherever 
that  is,  it  is  a  security  against  dangerous  error  ;  wher- 
ever it  is  not,  erroneous  opinions  may  perhaps  less  pre- 


128 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


dispose  the  mind  against  the  trutli  of  God  in  its  iively 
power  on  the  soul,  tlian  true  notions  destitute  of  all  life 
and  influence  do. 

Yet  the  writings  of  infidels  must  be  read  with  caution 
and  fear.  There  are  cold,  intellectual,  speculative, 
malignant  foes  to  Christianity.  I  dare  not  tamper  w  ith 
such,  when  T  am  in  my  right  mind.  T  have  received 
serious  injury,  for  a  time,  even  when  my  duty  has  call- 
ed me  to  read  what  they  have  to  say.  The  daring  im- 
piety of  Belsham's  answer  to  Wilberforce  ruffled  the 
calm  of  my  spirits.  I  read  it  over  while  at  Bath,  in  the 
autuiAn  of  1798.  I  waked  in  pain,  about  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  I  tried  to  cheer  myself  by  an  exercise 
of  faith  on  Jesus  Chi  ist.  I  lifted  up  my  heart  to  liini,  as 
sympathizing  witli  nie  and  engaged  to  support  me. 
Many  times  have  I  thus  obtained  quiet  and  repose  :  but 
now  I  could  lay  no  hold  on  him  :  I  had  given  the  ene- 
my an  advantage  over  me  :  my  habit  had  imbibed  pois- 
on :  my  nerves  trembled !  my  strength  was  gone  ! — 
"  Jesus  Christ  sympathize  with  you,  and  relieve  you  ! 
It  is  all  enthusiasm  !  It  is  idolatry  !  Jesus  Christ  has 
preached  his  sennons,  and  done  liis  duty,  and  is  gone 
to  heaven  !  And  there  he  is,  as  other  good  men  are  ! 
Address  your  prayers  to  the  Supreme  Being  !" — I  ob- 
tain relief  in  such  cases,  by  dismissing  from  my  thoughts 
all  that  enemies  or  friends  can  say.  I  will  have  nothing 
to  do  with  Belshani  or  with  Wilberforce.  I  come  to 
Christ  himself.  I  hear  what  he  says.  I  turn  over  the 
gospels.  I  read  his  conversations.  I  dwell  especially 
on  his  farewell  discourse  with  his  disciples  in  St.  John's 
gospel.  If  there  be  meaning  in  words,  and  if  Clirist 
were  not  a  deceiver  or  deceived,  the  reahty  of  the 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


129 


Chiistiari's  life,  in  iiim  and  from  him  by  faith,  is  written 
there  as  witli  a  sun-beam. 

This  temptation  besets  me  (o  this  day,  and  I  know- 
not  that  I  have  any  other  which  is  so  particular  in  its 
attacks  upon  me.  I  am  sometimes  restless  in  bed  ;  and, 
V  hen  I  find  myself  so,  I  generally  think  that  the  paren- 
thesis cannot  be  so  well  employed  as  in  prayer.  While 
my  mind  is  thus  ascending  to  Christ  and  communing 
with  him,  it  often  comes  across  me — "  What  a  fool  art 
thou,  to  imagine  these  mental  effusions  can  be  known 
to  any  other  Being  !  what  a  senseless  enthusiast,  to  im- 
agine that  the  man  who  was  nailed  to  a  cross  can  have 
any  knowledge  of  these  secrets  of  thy  soul  !"  On  one 
of  these  occasions  it  sti-uck  me  with  great  and  com- 
manding evidence — "  Why  might  not  St.  John,  in  the 
Isle  of  Patmos — imprisoned  perhaps  in  a  cave — why 
might  not  he  have  said  so  ?  Why  might  not  he  have 
doubted  whether  Christ  the  crucified  could  have  knowl- 
edge of  his  feelings,  when  he  was  in  the  Spirit  on  the 
Lord's  day  ?  He  had  no  doubt  communion  with  Clirist 
in  the  Spirit,  before  he  had  those  palpable  evidences 
of  his  presence  which  immediately  followed." 

In  the  permission  of  certain  bold  infidel  characters 
and  writings,  we  may  discern  plain  evidences  of  that 
awful  system  of  judicial  government,  with  which  God 
has  been  pleased  to  rule  the  world.  Where  there  is  a 
moral  indisposition,  where  men  are  inclined  to  be  de- 
ceived, where  they  are  waiting  as  it  were  for  a  leader — 
there  he  sends  such  men  and  such  writings,  as  harden 
them  in  their  impiety  :  while  a  teachable  and  humble 
mind  will  discern  the  true  character  of  such  men  or 
writings,  and  escape  the  danger. 


130 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


I  can  conceive  a  character  much  more  pernicious  in 
its  influence,  than  the  daring  and  iinpu.lent  infidel.  A 
man — in  the  estimaiion  of  all  the  world  modest,  ami- 
able, benevolent — who  should,  with  deep  concern,  la- 
ment the  obligation  under  which  he  feels  himself  to  de- 
part from  the  religion  of  Europe,  the  religion  of  his 
country,  the  religion  of  his  family  ;  and  should  profess 
his  unfeigned  desire  to  find  this  religion  true,  but  that 
he  cannot  possibly  bring  his  mind  to  believe  it,  and  that 
for  such  and  such  reasons  :  Avlien  he  should  thus  intro- 
duce all  the  strongest  points  that  can  be  urged  on  the 
subject. 

But  God  governs  the  world.  It  is  not  in  his  design 
to  permit  such  men  to  arise.  The  infidel  has  always  had 
something  about  him,  which  has  ascertained  his  obli- 
quity to  the  eye,  that  lias  not  been  dinnned  by  the 
moral  indisposition  of  the  heart. 


The  low  and  scurrilous  writers  again.st  Revelation 
carry  their  own  condemnation  with  tliem.  They  are 
like  an  ill-looking  fellow,  who  comes  into  a  Com-t  of 
Justice  to  give  evidence  ;  but  carries  the  aspect,  on  the 
first  glance,  of  a  town  bully,  ready  to  swear  whatever 
shall  be  suggested  to  him. 

Burke  has  painted  the  spirit  of  democracy  to  the  life. 
I  have  fallen  in  with  some  democrats,  who  knew  no- 
thing of  me.  They  have  been  subjects  of  great  curio- 
sity, when  I  could  forget  the  horrid  displaj'  of  sin  that 
was  before  me.  I  .saw  a  malignant  eye — a  ferocity — 
an  intensity  of  mind  on  their  point.  Viewed  in  its 
temper  and  tendencies.  Jacobinism  is  Devilism — Beli- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


131 


alism.  It  takes  the  yoke  of  God  and  man — puts  it  on 
the  ground — and  stamps  on  it.  Every  man  is  called 
out  inio  exertion  against  it.  It  is  an  inveterate,  malig- 
nant, blaspheming,  atheistical,  fierce  spirit.  It  seems 
a  toss  up  with  these  men,  -n  hether  Satan  himself  shall 
govern  the  world.  Our  IVIaster  lias  commanded  us  not 
to  cast  pem-ls  before  sir iiie.  I  am  vastly  delighted 
with  character — true  and  original  character :  but  this 
is  an  awful  and  affecting  display  of  it. 

The  church  has  endured  a  pagan  and  a  papal  per- 
secution. There  remains  for  her  an  infidel  persecu- 
tion— general,  bitter,  purifying,  cementing. 

It  is,  perhaps,  impossible,  in  the  very  nature  of 
things,  that  such  another  scheme  as  Popery  could  be 
invented.  It  is,  in  truth,  the  mystery  of  iniquity  ; 
that  it  should  be  able  to  work  itself  into  the  simple, 
grand,  sublime,  holy  institution  of  Christianity,  and  so 
to  interweave  its  aboininalioiis  with  the  truth,  as  to  oc- 
cupy the  strongest  passions  of  the  soul,  and  to  control 
the  strongest  understandings !  While  Pascal  can 
speak  of  Popery  as  he  dues,  its  influence  over  the  mass 
of  the  people  can  excite  no  surprise.  Those  two  mas- 
ter principles — That  we  must  believe  as  the  church  or- 
dains— and.  That  there  is  no  salvation  out  of  this 
church — oppose,  in  the  ignorance  and  fear  which  they 
beget,  an  almost  insuperable  barrier  against  the  truth. 

I  HAVE  not  such  expectations  of  a  millennium  as 
many  entertain  :  yet  I  believe  that  the  figm-es  and  ex- 
pressions of  prophecy  have  never  received  their  ac- 


132 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


compHshment.  They  are  too  grand  and  ample,  to  have 
been  fulfilled  by  any  state,  which  the  church  haslutlierlo 
seen.  Christianity  has  yet  had  no  face  suitable  to  its 
dignity.  It  has  savored  hitherto  too  much  of  man — of 
liis  institutions — of  his  prejudices — of  his  follies — of  his 
sin.  It  must  be  drawn  out — depicted — exliibited — de- 
monstrated to  the  world.  Its  chief  enemies  have  been 
the  men  by  whom,  under  the  professions  of  Hail,  Mas- 
ter !  it  has  been  distorted,  abused,  and  vilified. 

Popery  was  the  master-piece  of  Satan.  I  believe 
him  utterly  incapable  of  such  another  contrivance.  It 
was  a  systematic  and  infallible  plan,  for  fonning  mana- 
cles and  mulBers  for  the  human  mind.  It  was  a  well 
laid  design  to  render  Cluistianity  contemptible,  by  the 
abuse  of  its  principles  and  its  institutions.  It  was 
formed  to  overwhelm — to  enchant — to  sit  as  the  great 
whore,  making  the  earth  drunk  with  her  fornica- 
tions. 

The  infidel  conspiracy  approaches  nearest  to  Popeiy. 
But  infidelity  is  a  suicide.  It  dies  by  its  own  maligni- 
ty. It  is  known  and  read  of  all  men.  No  man  was  ev- 
er injured  essentially  by  it,  who  was  fortified  with  a 
small  portion  of  tlie  genuine  spirit  of  Clu-istianity — its 
contrition  and  its  docility.  Nor  is  it  one  in  its  eiibrts  ; 
its  end  is  one ;  but  its  means  are  disjointed,  various, 
and  often  clashing.  Popery  debases  and  alloys  Chris- 
tianity ;  but  infidelity  is  a  I'uiniace,  wherein  it  is  purifi- 
ed and  refined.  The  injuries  done  to  it  by  Popery,  will 
be  repaired  by  the  very  attacks  of  infidelity. 

In  the  mean  time,  Clu-istianity  wears  an  enchanting 
form  to  all,  who  can  penetrate  through  the  mists  thrown 
around  it  by  its  false  friends  and  its  avowed  foes.  The 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CKCIt. 


133 


exiled  French  Priest  raises  the  pity  and  indignation  of 
all  Christians,  while  he  describes  the  infernal  plots  of 
the  infidel  conspirators  against  Christianity,  and  shews 
them  in  successful  operation  against  his  chiu-ch.*  We 
seem,  for  a  while,  to  forget  her  errors :  and  we  view 
her,  for  the  moment,  only  so  far  as  she  possesses  Chris- 
tianity in  common  with  ourselves.  But  when  he  char- 
ges the  origin  of  this  inlidel  conspiracy  on  the  princi- 
ples asserted  by  the  Waldenses  or  the  church  of  Gena- 
va,  the  enchantment  dissolves.  We  see  that  he  is  un- 
der the  influence  of  a  sophism  :  by  which,  having  im- 
posed upon  himself,  he  would  impose  upon  others. 
With  him,  Christianity  and  his  church  mean  one  and 
the  same  thing.  A  separation  from  his  church  is  a  se- 
paration from  Chi-islianity  ;  and  proceeds  on  principles 
which  lead  necessarily,  if  pursued  to  their  issues,  to 
every  abomination  of  infidelity.  But  let  him  know  that 
tiie  church  of  Geneva  protested  against  the  false  friend 
of  Christianity ;  and  that,  if  the  avowed  enemy  of 
Cln-istianity  had  then  elevated  himself,  she  would  have 
protested  with  equal  zeal  against  him.  Let  him  know, 
that,  if  his  church  had  listened  to  the  voice  of  the  Re- 
former, the  enemy  of  Christianity  would  have  wanted 
ground  for  footing  to  his  attacks.  The  Papist  falsely 
charges  the  Reformer  as  the  father  of  infidelity  :  the 
infidel  maliciously  confounds  Popery  and  Christianity  : 
but  the  true  Christian  is  as  far  from  the  licentiousness 
of  the  infidel,  as  he  is  from  the  corruption  of  the  Papist. 

I  am  not  inchned  to  view  things  in  a  gloomy  aspect. 
Christianity  must  undergo  a  renovation.  If  God  has 
sent  his  Son,  and  has  declared  that  he  will  exalt  him  on 

•  Alluding  to  Barruel's  Memoirs  of  Jacobinism.   J.  P. 
M 


134 


REMAINS  OF  MR,  CECIL. 


liis  tlu-one — Ihe  earth  and  all  tliat  it  inherits  are  con- 
temptible in  the  view  of  such  a  plan  !  If  (his  be  God's 
design — proceed  it  does,  and  proceed  it  will.  Chris- 
tianity is  such  a  holy  and  spiritual  aflair,  that  perhaps 
all  human  institutions  are  to  be  destroyed  to  make  way 
for  it.  Men  may  fashiori  things  as  they  will ;  but,  if 
there  is  no  effusion  of  the  Spirit  of  God  on  their  institu- 
tions, tliey  will  remain  barren  and  lifeless.  Many 
Christians  appear  to  liave  forgotten  this. 


ON  A  christian's  DUTY  IN  THESE  EAENTFUL  TIMES. 

Ours  is  a  period  of  no  common  kind.  The  path  of 
duty  to  a  Christian  is  now  unusually  difficult.  It  seems 
to  me,  however,  to  be  comprehended  in  two  words — Be 
QUIET  and  USEFUL.  The  precept  is  short ;  but  the  ap- 
jjlication  of  it  requires  much  grace  and  Avisdom.  Take 
not  a  single  step  out  of  a  quiet  obscurity,  to  which  you 
are  not  compelled  by  a  sense  of  utility. 

Two  parties  have  divided  the  world. 

The  JACOBINS  are  desperadoes: — the  earth's  torment 
and  plague.  Bishop  Horsley  said  well  of  them,  lately 
from  the  pulpit — "  These  are  they  who  have  poisoned 
Watts's  Hynms  for  children.  These  are  they  who  are 
making  efforts  to  contaminate  every  means  of  access  to 
tlie  public  mind.  And  what  is  their  aim  ? — What  are 
tlieir  pretensions  ? — Tliat  they  will  have  neitlier  Lord 
nor  King  over  them.  But,  verily,  one  is  llieii-  King  :  — 
whose  name,  in  the  Hebrew  tongue,  is  Abaddon  ;  but, 
in  the  Greek  tongue,  he  is  called  Apollyon  ;  and  in 
plain  English — '  The  Devil.'  My  soul,  come  not  thou 
near  the  tents  of  these  wicked  men  ' 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


135 


"  But  the  ANTiJACOBiNS  ?"  Tiieir  project,  as  a  body, 
leaves  God  out  of  the  question.  The  ir  proposal  is  un- 
holy. I  cannot  be  insensible  to  the  security,  order, 
and  liberty,  Avith  which  these  kingdoms  are  favored 
above  all  other  nations  ;  but  I  cannot  go  forth  with 
tliese  men,  as  one  of  their  party.  I  cannot  throw  up 
my  hat,  and  shout  "  Huzza  !"  Wo  to  the  world,  if  even 
THEY  prevail ! 

The  world  is  a  lying,  empty  pageant ;  and  these 
men  are  ensnared  with  the  show.  Mj  pait  in  it,  as  a 
Christian,  is  to  act  with  simplicity  as  the  servant  of 
God.  What  does  God  bid  me  do  ?  What,  in  tliis 
minute  of  time,  which  will  be  gone  and  carry  me  with 
it  into  eternity — what  is  my  path  of  duty  ?  While  ene- 
mies blaspheme,  and  friends  are  beguiled,  let  me  stand 
on  imj  icatch-towei-  with  the  Propliet,  listening  what 
the  Lord  God  shall  say  to  me.  In  any  sciieme  of 
man  I  dare  not  be  drunken.  We,  icho  are  of  the  day, 
■must  he  sober.  Chm'chman  or  Dissenter,  if  I  am  a 
true  Christian,  I  shall  talk  thus  to  my  connexions.  The 
sentiment  of  the  multitude  is  ensnaring  :  but  tiie  multi- 
tude is  generally  wrong.  I  must  beware  of  the  conta- 
gion. Not  that  1  am  to  push  myself  into  consequence. 
The  matter  is  between  me  and  my  God — Not  one  step 
out  of  a  holy  quiet  and  obscurity,  but  in  order  to  utility. 

Yet  we  must  be  active  and  bold,  whenever  duty  calls 
us  to  be  so.  My  own  conduct,  Avith  respect  to  the  re- 
ligious world,  is  too  much  formed  on  my  feelings.  I 
see  it  in  what  I  deem  a  lamentable  state ;  but  I  seem 
to  say,  "  Well !  go  on  talking,  and  mistaking,  and 
making  a  noise:  only  make  not  a  noise  here:"  and 
then  I  retire  into  my  closet,  and  shrink  within  myself. 


136 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


But  liad  I  more  faith,  and  simplicity,  and  love,  and  self- 
denial,  I  might  do  all  I  do  in  my  present  sphere,  but  I 
should  throw  myself  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  entreat 
and  argue  and  remonstrate . 

But  then  such  a  man  must  give  himself  up  as  a  sa- 
crifice. He  would  be  misrepresented  and  calumniated 
from  many  quarters.  But  he  would  make  up  his  ac- 
count for  such  treatment.  How  would  St.  Paul  have 
acted  in  such  a  state  of  the  church  ?  Would  he  not 
have  displayed  that  warm  spirit,  which  made  liim  say, 
O  foolish  Galatians  !  who  hath  bewitched  you  ?  and 
that  holy  self-denial,  which  dictated,  I  will  very  glad- 
ly spend  and  be  spent  for  you,  though  the  more  ex- 
ceedingly I  love  you,  the  less  I  be  loved  ? 

It  is  not  to  be  calculated,  how  much  a  single  man 
may  effect,  who  throws  his  whole  powers  into  a 
thing.  Who,  for  instance  can  estimate  the  influence 
of  Voltaire  ?  He  shed  an  influence  of  a  peculiar  sort 
over  Europe.  His  powers  were  those  of  a  gay  buf- 
foon— far  diflerent  from  those  of  Hxime,  and  others  of 
Lis  class — but  he  threw  liimself  wholly  into  them.  It  is 
true  these  men  meet  the  wickedness  or  the  imbecility  ot 
the  human  mind  :  but  there  are  many  right  hearted  peo- 
ple, who  hang  a  long  time  on  the  side  of  pure,  silent, 
.simple  rehgion.  Let  a  man  who  sees  tilings  as  I  do, 
t  lirow  himself  out  with  all  his  powers,  to  rescue  and 
j^uide  such  persons. 


ON  FORTIFYING  YOUTH  AGAINST  INFIDEL  PRINCIPLES. 

I  NEVER  gathered  from  infidel  writers,  when,  an 
avowed  infidel  myself,  any  solid  diflSculties,  which  were 


REMAINS  OF  MR,  CECIL. 


137 


not  brought  to  my  mind  by  a  very  young  child  of  my 
own.  "  Why  was  sin  permitted  ?" — "  What  an  insig- 
nificant world  is  this  to  be  redeemed  by  the  incarnation 
and  death  of  the  Son  of  God  !" — "  Who  can  believe 
that  so  few  will  be  saved  ?" — Objections  of  this  kind, 
in  tlie  mind  of  reasoning  young  persons,  prove  to  me 
that  they  are  the  growtii  of  fallen  nature. 

The  nurse  of  infidelity  is  sensuality.  Youth  are  sen- 
sual. The  Bible  stands  in  tlieir  way.  It  prohibits  the 
indulgence  of  the  lust  of  tlie  flesh,  the  Inst  of  the  eye, 
and  the  pride  of  life.  But  the  young  mind  loves  these 
tilings ;  and,  thereibre,  it  hates  the  Bible  which  prohi- 
bits lliem.  It  is  prepared  to  say,  "  If  any  man  will 
bring  me  arguments  against  the  Bible,  I  will  thank,  him  : 
if  not,  I  will  invent  them." 

As  to  infidel  arguments,  there  is  no  weight  in  them- 
Tiiey  are  jejune  and  refuted.  Infidels  are  not  them- 
selves convinced  by  them. 

In  combating  this  evil  in  youth,  we  must  recollect  the 
proverb,  that  "  a  man  may  bring  his  horse  to  the  water, 
but  cannot  make  him  drink."  The  minds  of  the  young 
are  pre-occupied.  They  will  not  listen.  Yet  a  crisis 
may  come.    They  will  stop  and  bethink  themselves. 

One  promising  nietliod  with  them,  is,  to  appeal  to 
FACTS.  What  sort  of  men  are  infidels?  They  are 
loose,  fierce,  overbearing  men.  There  is  nothing  in 
them  like  sober  and  serious  inquiry.  They  are  the 
w  ildest  fanatics  on  earth.  Nor  have  they  agreed  among 
themselves  on  any  scheme  of  truth  and  felicity.  Con- 
trast with  the  character  of  infidels  that  of  real  Chris- 
tians. 

It  is  advantageous  to  dwell,  with  youth,  on  the  need 
M  2 


138 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


AND  NECESSITIES  OF  MAN.  "  Everj'  pang  and  grief  tells 
a  man  tliat  lie  deeds  a  helper  :  but  infidelity  provides 
none.   And  what  can  its  schemes  do  for  you  in  death  ?" 

Impress  them  with  a  sense  of  their  ignorance. 
I  silence  myself  many  times  a  day,  by  a  sense  of  my 
ow^n  ignorance. 

Appeal  to  their  consciences.  "  X'VHiy  is  it  that 
you  listen  to  infidelity  ?  Is  not  infidelity  a  low,  carnal, 
wicked  game  ?  Is  it  not  the  very  picture  of  the  prodi- 
gal— Father,  give  me  the  portion  of  goods  that  fall- 
eth  to  me  ? — The  question  why  infidelity  is  received, 
exposes  it,  and  shows  it  to  the  light.  Why — why  will 
a  man  be  an  infidel  ?  Your  children  may  urge  difficul- 
ties :  but  tell  them  that  inexplicable  difficulties  sun-ound 
you :  you  are  compelled  to  believe,  in  ninety-nine  cases 
out  of  a  hundred,  whether  you  will  or  no ;  and  shall 
you  not  be  a  believer  in  the  hundredth  instance  from 
choice  ? 

Draw  olt  a  map  of  the  road  of  infidelity.  It  will 
lead  them  to  such  stages,  at  length  as  they  never  could 
suspect.  Is  thy  servant  a  dog,  that  he  should  do 
this  thing  ? 

The  spirit  and  tone  of  your  house  mil  have  great 
influence  on  your  cliildren.  If  it  is  what  it  ought  to  be, 
it  will  often  fasten  conviction  on  their  minds,  however 
wicked  they  may  become.  I  have  felt  the  truth  of  this 
in  my  own  case  :  I  said,  "  My  father  is  right,  and  I  am 
wrong  !  Oh,  let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous, 
and  let  my  last  end  he  like  his  .'"  The  bye-conver- 
sations in  a  family  are,  in  this  view,  of  unspeakable  im- 
portance. 

On  the  whole,  arguments  addressed  to  the  heart 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


139 


press  more  forcibly  than  those  addressed  to  the  head. 
When  I  was  child,  and  a  very  wicked  one  too,  one  of 
Dr.  Watt's  Hyvnns  sent  me  to  weep  in  a  corner.  The 
lives  in  Janeway's  Token  had  the  same  effect.  I  felt 
the  influence  of  faith  in  suffering  Christians.  The  char- 
acter of  young  Samuel  came  home  to  me,  when  nothing 
else  had  any  hold  on  my  mind. 


ON  THE  MANAGEMENT  OF  CHILDREN. 

Great  wisdom  is  requisite  in  con-ecting  the  evils  of 
children.  A  child  is  bashful  perhaps  :  but,  in  stimulat- 
ing this  child,  we  are  too  apt  to  forget  future  conse- 
quences. "  Hold  up  your  head.  Don't  be  vulgar." 
At  length  they  hold  up  their  heads  ;  and  acquire  such 
airs,  that,  too  late,  we  discover  our  error.  We  forgot 
that  we  were  giving  gold,  to  purchase  dross.  We  for- 
got that  we  were  sacrificing  modesty  and  humility,  to 
make  them  young  actors  and  old  tyi  ants.* 

*  The  reader  cannot  but  admire  the  sentiments,  which  Bishop  Hurd 
has,  on  this  suLijrct,  put  into  the  mouth  of  Mr.  Locke,  one  of  his  supposed 
interlocutors  in  the  Dialogue  on  Foreign  Travels. 

"  Bash  fulness  is  not  so  much  the  efft  ct  of  an  ill  education,  as  the  proper 
gift  and  provision  of  wise  nature.  Every  stage  of  life  has  its  own  set  of 
manners,  that  is  suited  to  it,  and  best  becomes  it.  Each  is  beautiful  in 
its  season  ;  and  you  might  as  well  quarrel  with  the  cliild's  rattle,  and  ad- 
vance him  directly  to  tlie  boy's  top  and  span-farthing,  as  expect  from 
diffident  youth  the  manly  confidence  of  riper  age. 

"  Lamentable  in  the  mean  time,  I  am  sensible,  is  the  condition  of  my 
good  lady ;  who,  especially  if  she  be  a  miglity,  well  bred  one,  is  perfectly 
shocked  at  the  boy's  awkwardness,  and  calls  out  on  the  tailor,  the  danc- 
ing-master, the  player,  the  travelled  tutor,  any  body  and  every  body,  to 
relieve  her  from  the  pain  of  so  disgraceful  an  object. 

"  She  should,  however,  be  told,  if  a  proper  season  and  words  soft  en- 
ough could  be  found  to  convey  the  information,  that  the  odious  tiling 


140 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


Christians  are  imbibing  so  much  of  the  cast  and 
temper  of  the  age,  tliat  they  seem  to  be  anxiously  tutor- 
ing their  children,  and  preparing  them  by  all  manner 
of  means,  not  for  a  better  world,  but  for  the  present. 
Yet  in  nothing  should  the  simplicity  of  faith  be  more 
unreservedly  exercised,  tlian  with  regard  to  children. 
Tiieir  appointments  and  stations,  yea,  even  their  pre- 
sent and  eternal  happiness  or  misery,  so  far  as  they  are 
influenced  by  their  states  and  conditions  in  life,  may  be 
decided  by  the  most  minute  and  trivial  events,  all  of 
which  are  in  God's  hand,  and  not  in  ours.  An  unbe- 
lieving spirit  prevades,  in  this  respect,  too  intimately 
the  Christian  world. 

When  I  meet  children  to  instruct  them,  I  do  not  suf- 
fer one  grown  person  to  be  present.  The  Moravians 
pursue  a  different  method.  Some  of  their  elder  breth- 
ren even  sit  among  the  children,  to  sanction  and  en- 
courage the  work.  This  is  well,  provided  children  are 
to  be  addressed  in  the  usual  manner.  But  that  will  ef- 
fect little  good.  Nothing  is  easier  than  to  talk  to  chil- 
dren ;  but,  to  talk  to  them  as  they  ought  to  be  talked 
to,  is  the  very  last  effort  of  ability.  A  man  must  have  a 
vigorous  imagination.  He  must  have  extensive  know- 
ledge, to  call  in  illustrations  from  the  four  corners  of 

which  disturbs  her  so  much,  is  one  of  nature's  signatures  impressed  on 
that  age;  tliat  bashfulness  is  but  the  passage  from  one  season  of  life  to 
another ;  and  that  as  the  body  is  then  the  least  graceful,  when  the  limbs 
are  making  their  last  efforts  and  hastening  to  their  just  proportion,  so 
the  manners  are  least  easy  and  disengaged,  when  the  mind,  conscious 
and  impatient  of  its  perfections,  is  stretching  all  its  feculties  to  their 
full  growth." 

See  Bishop  Kurd's  Moral  and  Political  Dialogues,  Ed.  6th. 
Lond.  1788,  vol.  3d,  pp.  99,  100,  101.      J.  P. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


141 


Ihe  earth  ;  for  lie  will  make  little  progress,  but  by  illus- 
tration. It  requires  great  genius,  to  throw  the  mind 
into  the  habit  of  children's  minds.  I  aim  at  this,  but  I 
find  it  the  utmost  effort  of  ability.  No  sermon  ever  put 
my  mind  half  so  nmch  on  the  stretch.  The  effort  is 
such,  that,  were  one  person  present,  who  was  capable 
of  w  cighing  the  propriety  of  what  I  said,  it  would  be 
impossible  for  me  to  proceed  :  the  mind  must,  in  such 
a  case,  be  perfectly  at  its  ease  :  it  must  not  have  to  ex- 
ert itself  under  cramps  and  fetters.  I  am  surprised  at 
nothing  which  Dr.  Watts  did,  but  his  Hymns  for  Ciiil- 
dren.  Other  men  could  have  written  as  well  as  he,  in 
his  other  works  :  but  how  he  wrote  these  hynms,  I 
know  not.  Stories  fix  children's  attention.  Tiie  mo- 
ment I  begin  to  talk  in  any  thing  like  an  abstract  man- 
ner, the  attention  subsides.  The  simplest  maimer  in  the 
M'orld  will  not  make  way  to  children's  minds  for  abstract 
truths.  With  stories  I  find  I  could  rivet  their  attention 
for  two  of  three  hours. 


Children  are  very  early  capable  of  impression.  I 
imprinted  on  my  daughter  tlie  idea  of  faith,  at  a  very 
early  age.  She  was  pi  i\  iiig  ont'  day  with  a  few  beads, 
which  seemed  to  delight  iier  w  oiulerfully.  Her  wiiole 
soul  was  absorbed  in  her  beads.  I  said — "  3Iy  dear, 
you  have  some  pretty  beads  there." — "  Yes,  Paj)a  !" — 
"  And  you  seem  to  be  vastly  pleased  witli  tiiem." — 
"  Yes,  Papa  !" — "Well  now,  throw  'em  behind  tlie  fire." 
The  tears  started  into  her  eyes.  She  looked  earnestly 
at  me,  as  thougii  she  ought  to  have  a  reason  for  such  a 
cruel  sacrifice.  "  Well,  my  dear,  do  as  you  please  : 
but  you  know  1  never  told  you  to  do  any  thing  which  I 


142 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


did  not  think  would  be  good  for  you."  She  looked  at 
me  a  few  moments  longer,  and  then — summoning  up 
all  her  fortitude — her  breast  heaving  with  the  effort — 
she  dashed  them  into  the  fire.—"  Well,"  said  I ;  "  there 
let  them  lie,  you  shall  hear  more  about  them  another 
time  ;  but  say  no  more  about  them  now."  Some  days 
after,  I  bought  her  a  box  full  of  larger  beads,  and  toys 
of  the  same  kind.  When  I  returned  home,  I  opened 
the  treasure  and  set  it  before  her :  she  burst  into  tears 
with  extacy.  "  Those,  my  child,"  said  I,  "  are  yours  : 
because  you  believed  me,  when  I  told  you  it  would  be 
better  for  you  to  throw  those  two  or  three  paltry  beads 
behind  the  fire.  Now  that  has  brought  you  this  treasure. 
But  now,  my  dear,  remember,  as  long  as  you  live,  what 
Faith  is.  I  did  all  this  to  teach  you  the  meaning  of 
Faith.  You  threw  your  beads  away  when  I  bid  you, 
because  you  had  faith  in  me,  that  I  never  advised  you 
but  for  your  good.  Put  the  same  confidence  in  God. 
Believe  every  thing  that  he  says  in  his  word.  AVhetli- 
er  you  understand  it  or  not,  have  faith  in  liim  that  he 
means  your  good." 


ON  FAMILY  WORSHIP. 

Family  religion  is  of  unspeakable  importance.  Its 
effect  will  greatly  depend  on  the  sincerity  of  the  head 
of  the  family,  and  on  his  mode  of  conducting  the  wor- 
ship of  his  household.  If  his  children  and  servants  do 
not  see  his  prayers  exemplified  in  his  tempers  and 
manner  they  will  be  disgusted  with  religion.  Tedi- 
ousness  will  weary  them.  Fine  language  will  shoot 
above  them.    Formality  of  connexion  or  composition  in 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


143 


prayer  they  will  not  comprehend.  Gloominess  or  aus- 
terity of  devotion  will  make  them  dread  religion  as  a 
hard  service.  Let  them  be  met  with  smiles.  Let  them 
be  met  as  for  the  most  delightful  service,  in  which  they 
can  be  engaged.  Let  them  find  it  short,  savory,  simple, 
plain,  tender,  heavenly.  Worship,  thus  conducted, 
may  be  used  as  an  engine  of  vast  power  in  a  family. 
It  diftuses  a  sympathy  through  the  members.  It  calls 
oil'  the  mind  from  the  deadening  eflect  of  worldly  af- 
fairs. It  arrests  every  member,  with  a  morning  and 
evening  sermon,  in  the  midst  of  all  the  hurries  and 
cares  of  life.  It  says,  "  There  is  a  God  " — "  There  is 
a  spiritual  world  !" — "  There  is  a  life  to  come  !"  It  fix- 
es the  idea  of  responsibility  in  the  mind.  It  furnishes 
a  tender  and  judicious  father  or  master  with  an  oppor- 
tunity of  gently  glancing  at  faults,  where  a  direct  ad- 
monition might  be  inexpedient.  It  enables  him  to  re- 
lieve the  weight  with  which  subordination  or  service 
often  sits  on  the  minds  of  inferiors. 

In  my  family-worship  I  am  not  the  reader,  but  em- 
ploy one  of  my  children.  I  make  no  formal  conmient 
Oil  the  Scriptui"e  ;  but,  when  any  striking  event  or  senti- 
ment arises,  I  say,  "  Mark  that!" — "See  how  God 
judges  of  that  tiling  !"  Sometimes  I  ask  what  they 
think  of  the  matter,  and  how  such  a  thing  strikes  them. 
I  generally  receive  very  strange,  and  sometimes  ridi- 
culous answers  ;  but  I  am  pleased  with  them  :  atten- 
tion is  all  alive,  while  I  am  explaining  wherein  they  err, 
and  what  is  the  truth.  In  this  manner  I  endeavor  to 
impress  the  spirit  and  scope  of  the  passage  on  the  fa- 
mily. 

I  particudarly  aim  at  the  eradication  of  a  false  prin- 


144 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


ciple,  wonderfully  interwoven  with  the  minds  of  chil- 
dren and  servants — they  take  their  standard  from  the 
neighborhood  and  their  acquaintance,  and  by  tliis  Ihey 
judge  of  every  thing.  I  endeavor  to  raise  them  to  a 
persuasion,  that  God's  will  in  Scripture  is  the  standard  ; 
and  that  this  standard  is  perpetually  in  opposition  to 
that  corrujjt  one  around  and  before  them. 

The  younger  children  of  the  family  will  soon  have 
discernment  enough  to  perceive  that  the  Bible  has  a 
holiness  about  it,  that  runs  directly  contrary  to  the 
stream  of  opinion.  And  then  because  this  character  is 
so  evident,  and  so  inseparable  from  the  Scripture,  the 
heart  will  distaste  and  reject  it.  Yet  the  standard  must 
be  preserved.  If  a  man  should  lower  il,  they  would 
soon  detect  liim ;  and  he  must,  after  all,  raise  them  up 
to  the  right  standard  again.  Much  may  be  efi'ected  by 
manner,  as  to  impressing  truth  ;  but  still  truth  will  re- 
main irksome,  till  God  touch  the  heart. 

I  read  the  Scriptures  to  my  family  in  some  regular 
order  ;  and  am  pleased  to  have  thus  a  lesson  found  for 
me.  I  look  on  the  chapter  of  the  day  as  a  lesson  sent 
for  that  day  ;  and  so  I  regard  it  as  coming  from  God 
for  the  use  of  tliat  day,  and  not  of  my  own  seeking. 

I  find  it  easy  to  keep  up  the  attentio)i  of  a  congrega- 
tion, in  comparison  of  that  of  my  family.  I  have  found 
the  attention  best  gained  by  bringing  the  truths  of  Scrip- 
ture into  comparison  with  the  facts  which  are  before 
our  eyes.  It  puts  more  stimuli  into  family  expositions. 
I  never  found  a  fact  lost,  or  the  current  news  of  the  day 
fail  of  arresting  the  attention.  "  How  does  the  Bible 
account  for  that  fact  ? — That  man  murdered  his  father 
— This  or  that  thing  happened  in  our  house  to-day — 
What  does  the  Scripture  say  of  such  things?" 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL> 


145 


it  is  difficult  lo  fix  and  quiet  your  family.  The  ser- 
vants are  eager  to  be  gone,  to  do  something  in  hand. 
There  has  been  some  disagreement,  perhaps,  between 
them  and  their  mistress,  Wc  must  seize  opportuni- 
ties. We  must  not  drive  hard  at  such  times  as  these. 
Regularity,  however,  must  be  enforced.  If  a  certain 
hour  is  not  fixed  and  adhered  to,  the  family  will  inevit- 
ably be  found  in  confusion. 

Religion  should  be  prudently  brought  before  the  fa- 
mily. The  old  Dissenters  wearied  their  families.  Ja- 
cob reasoned  well  with  Esau,  about  the  tenderness  of 
his  children,  and  his  flocks  and  herds.  Something  gen- 
tle, quiet,  moderate,  should  be  our  aim.  There  should 
be  no  scolding  :  it  should  be  mild  and  pleasant. 

I  avoid  absolute  uniformity  :  the  mind  revolts  at  it; 
though  I  would  shun  eccentricity,  for  that  is  still  worse. 
At  one  time  I  would  say  something  on  what  is  read: 
but,  at  another  time,  nothing.  I  make  it  as  natural 
as  possible,  "  1  am  a  religious  man  :  you  are  my  chil- 
dren and  my  servants :  it  is  natural  that  we  should 
do  so  and  so." 

Nothing  of  superstition  should  attach  to  family  duty. 
It  is  not  absolutely  and  in  all  cases  indispensable.  If 
unavoidably  interrupted,  we  omit  it :  it  is  well.  If  I 
were  peremptorily  ordered,  as  the  Jews  were,  to  bring 
a  lamb,  I  nuist  be  absolute.  But  this  service  is  my  li- 
berty, not  my  task.  I  do  not,  however,  mean  in  any  de- 
gree to  relax  the  proper  obligation. 

Children  and  servants  should  see  us  acting  on  the 
Psalmist's  declaration,  I  will  speak  of  thy  testimony 
before  Kings .  If  a  great  man  happen  to  be  present, 
let  them  see  that  I  deem  him  nothing  before  the  word 
of  God  !  N 


146 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CKCIl.. 


ON  THE  INFLUENCE  OF  THE  PARENTAL  CHARACTCH?. 

The  influence  of  the  parental  character  on  cliiUlren 
is  not  to  be  calculated.  Ev  ery  tliin;;  around  lias  an  in- 
fluence on  us.  Indeed,  the  influence  of  things  is  so 
great,  that,  by  familiarity  with  them,  they  insensibly 
urge  us  on  principles  and  feelings  which  we  before  ab- 
horred. I  knew  a  man  who  took  in  a  democratical 
paper,  only  to  laugh  at  it.  But  at  length,  he  had  read 
the  same  things  again  and  again,  so  often,  that  he  began 
to  think  there  must  be  some  truth  in  them,  and  that  men 
and  measures  were  really  such  as  they  were  so  often 
said  to  be.  A  drop  of  water  seems  to  have  no  influence 
on  the  stone  ;  but  will,  in  the  end,  wear  its  way  through. 
If  there  be  therefore  such  a  mighty  influence  in  every 
thing  around  us,  the  parental  influence  must  be  great 
indeed. 

Consistency  is  the  great  character,  hi  good  j)arents, 
wliich  impresses  children.  They  may  witness  much 
temper ;  but  if  they  see  their  Father  "  keep  the  even 
tenor  of  liis  way,"  his  imperfections  will  be  understood 
and  allowed  for  as  reason  opens.  The  child  will  see 
and  reflect  on  his  parent's  hitention  :  and  this  will  have 
great  influence  on  his  mind.  This  influence  may,  in- 
deed, be  afterwards  counteracted  :  but  that  only  proves 
that  contrary  currents  may  arise,  and  carry  the  child 
another  way.  Old  Adam  may  be  too  strong  for  young 
Melancthon. 

The  implantation  of  principles  is  of  unspeakable  im- 
portance, especially  when  culled  from  time  to  time  out 
of  the  Bible.  The  child  feels  his  parent's  autliority 
supported  by  the  Bible,  and  the  authority  of  the  Bible 


nK:MAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  147 

STipportecl  by  Iiis  parent's  weiglit.  and  influence.  Here 
are  data — iixed  data.  A  man  can  very  seldom  get  rid 
of  these  principles.  Tliey  stand  in  liis  way.  He  wish- 
es to  forget  them,  perliaps  ;  but  it  is  impossible. 

Where  parental  influence  does  not  convert,  it  ham- 
pers. It  hangs  on  the  wheels  of  evil.  I  had  a  pious 
niotlier,  who  dropped  things  in  my  way.  I  could  nev- 
er rid  myself  of  them.  I  was  a  professed  infidel  :  but 
tiien  I  hked  to  be  an  infidel  in  company,  rather  than 
w  hen  alone.  I  was  wretched  when  by  myself.  These 
principles,  and  maxims,  and  data  spoiled  my  jollity. 
With  my  companions  I  could  sometimes  stifle  them: 
like  embers  we  kept  one  another  warm.  Besides,  I 
was  here  a  sort  of  hero.  I  had  beguiled  several  of  my 
associates  into  my  own  opinions,  and  had  to  maintain  a 
character  before  them.  But  I  could  not  divest  myself 
of  my  better  principles.  I  went  with  one  of  my  com- 
panions to  see  "  The  Minor."  He  could  laugh  heart- 
ily at  mother  Cole — I  could  not.  He  saw  in  her  the 
picture  of  all  who  talked  about  religion — I  knew  better. 
The  ridicule  on  regeneration  was  high  sport  to  him — to 
me,  it  w  as  none  :  it  could  not  move  my  features.  He 
knew  no  diflerence  between  regeneration  and  transub- 
stantiation — 1  did.  I  knew  tliere  was  such  a  tiling.  I 
was  afraid  and  ashamed  to  laugh  at  it.  Parental  influ- 
ence thus  cleaves  to  a  man  :  it  harrasses  him — it  tlu'ows 
itself  continually  in  his  way. 

1  find  in  myself  another  evidence  of  the  greatness  of 
parental  influence.  I  detect  myself  to  this  day,  in  lay- 
ing down  maxims  in  my  family,  which  I  took  up  at 
tliree  or  four  years  of  age,  before  I  could  possibly  know 
the  reason  of  the  thing. 


148 


REMA1T4S  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


It  is  of  Incalculable  importance  to  obtain  a  hold  on 
the  conscience.  Children  have  a  conscience  ;  and  it  is 
not  seared,  though  it  is  evil.  Bringing  the  eternal 
world  into  their  view— planning  and  acting  with  that 
world  before  us— this  gains  at  length,  such  a  hold  on 
them,  that,  with  all  the  infidel  poison  whicii  they  may 
afterward  imbibe,  there  are  few  children  who,  at  night 
— in  their  chamber — in  the  dark — in  a  storm  of  thunder 

 will  not  feel.    They  cannot  cheat  like  other  men. 

They  recollect  that  ETERNm',  which  stands  in  their  way. 
It  rises  up  before  them,  like  the  ghost  of  Banquo  to 
Macbeth.  It  goatls  them  :  it  thunders  in  their  ears. 
After  all,  they  are  obliged  to  compound  the  matter  \riih 
conscience,  if  they  cannot  be  prevailed  on  to  return  to 
God  without  delay  :— "  I  must  be  religious,  one  time  or 
other.  That  is  clear.  I  cannot  get  rid  of  this  thing. 
Well !  I  will  begin  at  such  a  time.  I  will  finish  such  a 
scheme,  and  then  !" 

Tlie  opinions — the  spirit — the  conversation — the  man- 
ners of  the  parent,  influence  the  child.  Wiiatever  sort 
of  man  he  is,  such  in  a  great  degree,  will  be  the  child  ; 
unless  constitution  or  accident  give  him  another  turn. 
If  the  parent  is  a  fantastic  man — if  he  is  a  genealogist, 
knows  nothing  but  who  married  such  an  one,  and  who 
married  such  an  one — if  he  is  a  sensualist,  a  low  wretch 
— his  children  will  u.sually  catch  these  tastes.  If  he  is 
a  hterary  man— his  very  girls  will  talk  learnedly.  If  he 
is  a  griping,  hard,  miserly  man — such  will  be  his  chil- 
dren. This  I  speak  of  as  generally  the  case.  It 
may  happen,  that  the  parent's  disposition  may  have  no 
ground  to  work  on  in  that  of  the  child.  It  may  happen, 
that  the  child  may  be  driven  into  disgust  :  the  miser. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CEClt. 


149 


for  instance,  often  implants  disgust,  and  his  son  be- 
comes a  spendtlmft. 

After  all,  in  some  cases,  perhaps,  every  thing  seems 
to  have  been  done  and  exhibited  by  the  pious  parent  in 
vain.  Yet  he  casts  his  bread  npon  the  waters.  And, 
perhaps,  after  he  has  been  in  bis  grave  twenty  years, 
his  son  remembers  what  his  father  told  him. 

Besides,  parental  influence  must  be  great  because 
God  has  said  that  it  shall  be  so.  The  parent  is  not  to 
stand  reasoning  and  calculating.  God  has  said  that 
his  character  shall  have  influence. 

And  this  appointment  of  Providence  becomes  often 
the  punishment  of  a  wicked  man.  Such  a  man  is  a 
complete  selfist.  I  am  weary  of  hearing  such  men 
talk  about  their  "  family  " — and  their  "  family  " — they 
"  nmst  provide  for  their  family."  Their  family  has  no 
place  in  their  real  regard.  They  push  for  them- 
selves. But  God  says — "  No  !  You  think  your  chil- 
dren shall  be  so  and  so.  But  they  shall  be  rods  for 
your  own  backs.  They  shall  be  your  curse.  They 
shall  rise  up  against  you."  The  most  common  of  all 
human  complaints  is — Parents  groaning  under  the  vices 
of  their  children  !  This  is  all  the  effect  of  parental  in- 
fluence. 

In  the  exercise  of  this  influence  there  ate  two  leading 
dangers  to  be  avoided. 

Excess  of  SEVERITY  is  one  danger.  My  mother,  on 
the  contrary,  would  talk  to  me,  and  weep  as  she  talked. 
1  flung  out  of  the  house  with  an  oath — but  wept  too 
when  I  got  into  tlie  street.  Sympathy  is  the  powerful 
engine  of  a  mother.  I  was  desperate — I  would  go  on 
board  of  a  privateei-.    But  there  are  soft  moments  to 


150 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


such  desperadoes.  God  does  not,  at  once,  abandon 
them  to  themselves.  There  are  times  when  the  man 
says — "  I  should  be  glad  to  return,  but  I  should  not 
like  to  meet  that  face  !"  if  he  has  been  treated  with  se- 
verity. 

Yet  excess  of  laxity  is  another  danger.  The  case 
of  Eli  affords  a  serious  warning  on  this  subject.  Instead 
of  his  mild  expostulation  on  the  flagrant  wickedness  of 
his  sons — Nay,  my  sons,  it  is  no  good  report  that  I 
hear — he  ought  to  have  exercised  his  authority  as  a 
parent  and  magistrate  in  punishing  and  restraining  their 
crimes. 


REMARKS  ON  AUTHORS. 

When  I  look  at  the  mind  of  Lord  Bacon — it  seems 
vast,  original,  penetrating,  analogical,  beyond  all  com- 
petition. When  I  look  at  his  character — it  is  wavering, 
shuffling,  mean.  In  the  closing  scene,  and  in  that  only, 
he  appeals  in  true  dignity,  as  a  man  of  profound  con- 
trition. 


Baxter  surpasses,  perhaps,  all  others,  in  the  grand, 
impressive,  and  persuasive  style.  But  he  is  not  to  be 
named  w  ith  Owen  as  to  furnishing  the  student's  mind. 
He  is,  however,  multifarious,  complex,  practical. 

Clarke  has,  above  all  other  men,  the  faculty  of  low- 
ering the  life  and  spiritual  sense  of  Scripture  to  such 
perfection,  as  to  leave  it  like  drj^  bones,  divested  of  ev- 
ery particle  of  marrow  or  oil.  South  is  nearer  Die 
truth.  He  tells  more  of  it ;  but  he  tells  it  w  ith  the 
tongue  of  a  viper,  for  he  was  most  bitterly  set  against 


REMAINS  Ol"  MR.  CKCIL. 


151 


the  puiilans.  But  tlieie  is  a  spirit  and  life  about  him. 
He  must  and  will  be  heard.  And  now  and  then,  he 
darts  on  us  with  an  unexpected  and  incomparable 
stroke. 

The  modern  German  writers,  and  the  whole  school 
formed  after  them,  systematically  and  intentionally  con- 
found vice  and  virtue,  and  argue  for  the  passions 
against  the  morals  and  institutions  of  society.  There 
never  was  a  more  dangerous  book  written,  than  one 
that  JVIrs.  Wolstoncraft  left  imperfect,  but  which 
Godwin  published  after  her  death.  Her  "  Wrongs  of 
Women"  is  an  artful  apology  for  adultery  :  she  labors 
to  interest  the  feelings  in  favor  of  an  adulteress,  by 
making  her  crime  the  consequence  of  the  barbarous 
treatment  of  a  despicable  husband,  while  she  is  painted 
all  softness  and  sensibility.  Nothing  like  this  was  ever 
attempted  before  the  raodej-n  school. 

"  Some  men,"  says  Dr.  Patten  to  me,  "  are  always 
crying  tire!  fire!"  To  be  sure — where  there  is  dan- 
ger there  ought  to  be  aiiectionate  earnestness.  Who 
would  remonstrate,  coldly  and  with  indifference,  with  a 
man  about  to  precipitate  liimself  from  Dover  Cliff,  and 
not  rather  snatch  him  forcibly  from  destruction  ?  Truth, 
in  its  living  influence  on  the  heart,  will  show  itself  in 
consecratedness  and  holy  zeal.  When  teachers  of  re- 
ligion are  destitute  of  these  qualities,  the  world  readily 
infers  that  religion  itself  is  a  farce.  Let  us  do  the  world 
justice.  It  has  very  seldom  found  a  considerate,  ac- 
coimnodatiiig,  and  gentle,  but  withal  earnest,  heavenly, 
aad  enlightened  teacher.    When  it  has  found  such. 


152 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECTl, 


truth  has  received  a  very  general  attention.  Such  a 
man  was  Hervey,  and  his  works  have  met  their  reward. 


Homer  approaches  nearest  of  all  the  heathen  poets 
to  the  grandeur  of  Hebrew  poetry.  With  the  theolo- 
gical hght  of  S  cripture,  he  would  have  wonderfully  re- 
sembled it. 

Hooker  is  incomparable  in  strength  and  sanctity. 
His  first  books  are  wonderful.  I  do  not  so  perfectly 
meet  him,  as  he  advances  toward  the  close. 

Loskiel's  "Account  of  the  Moravian  Missions  among 
the  North  American  Indians"  has  taught  me  two  things. 
I  have  found  in  it  a  striking  illustration  of  the  unlforiri- 
ity  with  which  the  grace  of  God  operates  on  men. 
Crantz,  in  his  "Account  of  the  Missions  in  Greenland," 
liad  shown  the  grace  of  God  working  on  a  man-fish  : 
on  a  stupid — sottish — senseless  creature — scarcely  a 
remove  from  the  fish  on  which  he  Kved.  Loskiel  shows 
the  same  grace  working  on  a  man-devil  :  a  fierce — 
bloodj'— revengeful  warrior — dancing  liis  infernal  war- 
dance  with  the  mind  of  a  furj'.  Divine  grace  brings 
these  men  to  the  same  point.  It  quickens,  stimulates, 
and  elevates  the  GreenJander  :  it  raises  him  to  a  sort 
of  new  life  :  it  seems  almost  to  bestow  on  him  new 
senses  :  it  opens  his  eye,  and  bends  his  ear,  and  rouses 
the  heart :  and  what  it  adds — it  sanctifies.  The  same 
grace  tames  the  high  spirit  of  the  Indian :  it  reduces 
him  to  the  meekness,  and  docility,  and  simpUcity  of  a 
child.  The  evidence  arising  to  Christianity  from  these 
facts  is,  perhaps,  seldom  sufficient,  by  itself,  to  co»- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


153 


vince  Ike  gainsnyer :  but,  to  a  man  who  already  be- 
liev  es,  it  greatly  strengtliens  the  reasons  of  liis  belief.  I 
have  seen  also  in  these  books,  that  the  fish-boat,  and  the 
oil,  and  the  toniahawk,and  the  cap  of  feathers  excepted 
■ — a  Christianrmlnister  haa  to  deal  with  just  the  same 
sort  of  creatures,  as  the  Greenlander  and  the  Indian 
atnorty  civilized  nations. 

Owen-  stands  at  the  head  of  his  class  of  divines.  His 
scholars  will  be  more  profound  and  enlarged,  and  better 
furnished,  than  those  of  most  other  witers.  His  work 
on  the  Spirit  has  been  my  treasure-house  and  one  of 
niy  first  rate  books.  Such  writers  as  Riccaltoun 
rather  disqualify  than  prepare  a  minister  for  the  imme- 
diate business  of  the  pidpit.  Original  and  profound 
thinkers  enlarge  his  views,  and  bring  into  exercise  the 
powers  and  energies  of  his  own  mind,  and  should  there- 
fore be  his  daily  companions.  Their  matter  must,  how- 
ever, be  ground  down  before  it  will  be  fit  lor  the  pul- 
pit. Such  writers  as  Owen,  who,  though  less  original 
have  united  detail  with  wisdom,  are  copious  in  proper 
topics,  and  in  matter  better  prepared  for  immediate 
use,  and  in  furniture  ready  finished,  as  it  were,  for  the 
mind. 

Paley  is  an  imsound  casuist,  and  is  likely  to  do  great 
injury  to  morals  :  His  extenuation  of  the  crimes  com- 
mitted by  an  intoxicated  man  for  instance,  is  fallacious 
and  dangerous.  Multiply  the  crhne  of  intoxication  into 
the  consequences  that  follow  from  it,  and  you  have  the 
sum  total  of  the  guilt  of  a  drunken  man. 


154 


Rutherford's  Letters  is  one  of  niy  classics.  ^^  ere 
truth  the  beam,  I  have  no  doubt,  tliat  if  Homer  and  Vir- 
gil and  Horace,  and  all  that  the  world  has  a;;reed  to 
idolize,  were  weighed  against  that  book,  they  would 
be  lighter  than  vanity.  He  is  a  real  original.  There 
ai-e  in  his  letters  some  inexpressibly  forcible  and  arrest- 
ing remonstrances  with  unconverted  men. 

I  SHOULD  not  recommend  a  young  minister  to  pay 
much  deference  to  the  Scotch  DiviNjiS.  The  Erskines, 
who  were  the  best  of  tliem,  are  dry,  and  labored,  and 
proUx,  and  wearisome.  He  may  find  incomparable 
matter  in  them,  but  he  should  beware  of  forming  his 
taste  and  manner  after  their  model.  I  want  a  more 
kind  hearted  and  liberal  sort  of  divinity.  He  had 
much  better  take  up  Bishop  Hall.  There  is  a  set  of 
excellent,  but  wrong-headed  men,  who  w  ould  reform 
the  London  preachers  on  a  more  elaborate  plan.  They 
are  not  philosophers  who  talk  thus.  If  Owen  himself 
were  to  rise  from  the  grave,  unless  it  were  for  the  in- 
fluence of  the  great  name  wliicli  he  would  bring  w  itii 
him,  he  might  close  his  days  w  ith  a  sniail  congregation, 
in  some  little  meeting-house. 

Shakspeare  had  a  low  and  licentious  ta.ste.  \'\'hen 
he  chose  to  imagine  a  virtuous  and  exalted  character, 
he  would  completely  throw  his  mind  into  it,  and  give 
the  perfect  picture  of  such  a  character.  But  he  is  at 
home  in  Falstaft".  No  high,  grand,  virtuous,  religious 
aim  beams  forth  in  hini.  A  man,  whose  heart  and  taste 
are  modelled  on  the  Bible,  nauseates  him  in  the  mass, 
while  he  is  enraptured  and  astonished  by  the  flashes  of 
of  liis  pre-eminent  genius. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


155 


"Have  you  read  my  Key  to  tlie  Romans  ?" — said 
Dr.  Taylor,  of  Norwich,  to  Mr.  Newton.  "  I  have 
turned  it  over." — You  have  turned  it  over  !  And  is 
this  the  treatment  a  book  must  meet  with,  which  has 
cost  me  many  years  of  hard  study  ?  Must  I  be  told,  at 
last,  that  you  have  '  turned  it  over,'  and  then  tlirown  it 
aside?  You  ought  to  have  read  it  carefully  and  weighed 
deliberately  what  comes  forward  on  so  serious  a  sub- 
ject."— "  Hold !  You  have  cut  me  out  full  employment, 
if  my  life  were  to  be  as  long  as  Methuselah's.  I  have 
somewhat  else  to  do  in  the  sliort  day  allotted  me,  than  to 
read  whatever  any  one  may  tliink.  it  his  duty  to  write. 
Wlien  I  read,  I  wish  to  read  to  good  purpose  ;  and 
there  are  some  books,  \^  hich  contradict  on  the  very  face 
of  them  wliat  appear  to  me  to  be  first  principles.  You 
surely  will  not  say  I  am  bound  to  read  such  bqpks.  If 
a  man  tells  me  he  has  a  very  elaborate  argument  to 
prove  that  two  and  two  make  five,  I  have  something 
else  to  do  than  to  attend  to  this  argument.  If  I  find 
(he  first  m  outhful  of  meat  which  I  take  from  a  fine  look- 
ing joint  on  my  table  is  tainted,  I  need  not  eat  through 
it  to  be  convinced  I  ought  to  send  it  away." 

I  NEVER  read  any  sermons  so  much  like  White- 
field's  manner  of  preaching  as  Latimer's — You  see  a 
simple  mind  uttering  all  its  feelings  ;  and  putting  forth 
every  thing  as  it  comes,  without  any  reference  to  books 
or  men,  wilh  a  nahiete  seldom  equalled. 

I  admired  \\'itsils's  "  Economy  of  the  Covenants," 
but  not  so  mucii  as  many  persons. — There  is  too  much 
system.    I  used  to  study  commentators  and  systems  ; 


156 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


but  I  am  come  almost  wliolly,  at  length,  to  the  Bible. 
Commentators  are  excellent  in  general,  wliere  there  are 
but  few  difficulties  :  but  they  leave  the  harder  knot  still 
untied.  I  find  in  the  Bible,  the  more  I  read,  a  grand 
peculiarity,  that  seems  to  say  to  all  who  attempt  to  sys- 
tematize it,  "  I  am  not  of  your  kind.  I  am  not  amen- 
able to  your  methods  of  thinking.  I  am  untractable  in 
your  hands.  I  stand  alone.  The  great  and  wise  shall 
never  exhaust  my  treasures. — By  figures  and  parables 
I  will  come  down  to  the  feeUngs  and  imderstandiiigs 
of  the  ignorant.  Leave  me  as  I  am,  but  study  me  in- 
cessantly." Calvin's  Institutes  are,  to  be  sure^  great 
and  admirable,  and  so  are  his  commentaries  ;  but  after 
all,  if  we  must  have  commentators — as  we  certainly 
must — Pool  is  incomparable,  and  I  had  almost  said 
abundant  of  himself. 


Young  is,  of  all  other  men,  one  of  the  most  striking 
examples  of  the  disunion  of  piety  from  truth.  If  we 
read  his  most  true,  impassioned,  and  impressive  esti- 
mate of  the  world  and  of  religion,  we  shall  think  it  im- 
possible that  he  was  uninfluenced  by  his  subject.  •  It  is, 
however,  a  melancholy  fact,  that  he  was  hunting  after 
preferment  at  eighty  years  old  ;  and  felt  and  spoke  like 
a  disappointed  man.  The  truth  was  pictured  on  his 
mind  in  most  vivid  colors.  He  felt  it,  while  he  was 
writing.  He  felt  himself  on  a  retired  spot :  and  he  saw 
death,  the  mighty  hunter,  pursuing  the  unthinking 
world.  He  saw  redemption — its  necessity  and  its  gran- 
deur ;  and  while  he  looked  on  it,  he  spoke  as  a  man 
would  speak  whose  mind  and  heart  aie  deeply  enga- 
ged.   Notwithstanding  all  tliis,  the  view  did  not  reach 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


157 


his  heart.  Had  I  preaclied  in  his  pulpit  with  the  fer- 
vor and  interest  that  his  "  Niglit  Tlioughts"  discover, 
he  would  have  been  terrified.  He  told  a  friend  of  mine 
who  went  to  liim  under  religious  fears,  that  he  must 

GO  MORE  INTO  THE  WORLD  !" 


ON  THE  SCRIPTURES. 
MlSCELLANEOfS  REMARKS  ON  THE  SCRIPTURES. 

I  AM  an  entire  disciple  of  Butler.  He  calls  his  book 
"Analogy  ;"  but  the  great  subject,  from  beginning  to 
end,  is  human  ignorance.  Berkeley  has  done  much  to 
reduce  man  to  a  right  view  of  his  attainments  in  real 
knowledge  ;  but  he  goes  too  far  :  he  requires  a  demon- 
stration of  self-evident  truths :  he  requires  me  to  de- 
monstrate that  that  table  is  before  me.  Bcattie  ha.s 
well  replied  to  this  error,  in  his  "  Immutability  of 
Truth  ;"  though  it  pleased  Mr.  Hume  to  call  that  book, 
— "  Philosophy  for  the  Ladies." 

Metaphysicians  seem  born  to  puzzle  and  confound 
mankind.  I  am  surprised  to  hear  men  talk  of  their 
having  demonstrated  such  and  such  points.  Even  An- 
drew Baxter,  one  of  the  best  of  these  metaphysicians, 
though  he  reasons  and  speculates  well,  has  not  demon- 
strated to  my  mind  one  single  point  by  his  reasonings. 
They  know  nothing  at  all  on  the  subject  of  moral  anil 
religious  truth,  beyond  what  God  has  revealed.  I  am 
so  deeply  convinced  of  this,  that  I  can  sit  by  and  smile 
at  the  fancies  of  these  men;  and  especially  when  they 
fancy  they  have  found  out  demonstrations.  Wliy  there 
o 


158 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


are  demonslrators,  who  will  cairy  the  world  before  them; 
till  another  man  rises,  who  demonstrates  the  very  oppos- 
ite, and  then,  of  com-se,  the  world  follows  him  ! 

We  are  mere  mites  creeping  on  the  earth,  and  oft(  n- 
times  conceited  mites  too.  If  any  superior  being  will 
condescend  to  visit  us  and  teach  us,  something  may  be 
known.  "  Has  God  spoken  to  man  ?"  This  is  the  most 
important  question  that  can  be  asked.  All  ministers 
should  examine  this  matter  to  the  foundation.  Many 
are  culpably  negligent  herein.  But  when  this  has  been 
done,  let  there  be  no  more  questionings  and  surmises. 
My  son  is  not,  perhaps,  convinced  that  I  a^n  entitled  to 
be  liis  teacher.  Let  us  try.  If  he  finds  that  he  knows 
more  than  I  do — well :  if  he  finds  that  he  knows  nothing 
and  submits — I  am  not  to  renew  this  conv  iction  in  his 
mind  every  time  he  chooses  to  require  me  to  do  so. 

If  any  honest  and  benevolent  man  felt  scruples  in  his 
breast  concerning  Revelation,  he  would  hide  them  there  ; 
and  would  not  move  wretched  men  from  the  only  sup- 
port which  they  can  have  in  tliis  world.  I  am  thorough- 
ly convinced  of  the  want  of  real  integrity  and  benevol- 
ence in  all  infidels.  And  I  am  as  thoroughly  convinced 
of  the  want  of  real  belief  of  the  Scriptures  in  most  of 
those  who  profess  to  believe  them. 

Metaphysicians  can  unsettle  things,  but  they  can 
erect  nothing.  Tiiey  can  pull  down  a  church,  but  they 
cannot  build  a  hovel.  The  Hutchinsonians  have  said 
the  best  things  about  the  metaphysicians.  I  am  no 
Hutchinsonian  ;  yet  I  see  that  they  have  data,  and  that 
there  is  something  worth  proving  in  what  they  assert. 


Principle  is  to  be  distinguished  from  prejudice. 


REMAINS  OF  MU.  CECIL 


159 


The  man  wl\o  slioukl  endeavor  to  weaken  my  belief  of 
the  tnith  of  the  Bible,  and  of  the  fair  deduction  from 
it  of  the  leading  doctrines  of  religion,  under  the  notion 
of  theii'  being  prejudices,  should  be  regarded  by  me  as 
an  assassin.  He  stabs  me  in  my  dearest  liopes  :  he 
robs  me  of  my  solid  happiness ;  and  he  has  no  equiva- 
lent to  ofler.  Tliis  species  of  evidence  of  the  trutli  and 
value  of  Scriptui-e  is  within  the  reach  of  all  men.  It  is 
my  strongest.  It  assures  me  as  fully  as  a  voice  could 
from  heaven,  that  my  principles  are  not  prejudices.  I 
see  in  the  Bible  my  heart  and  the  world  painted  to  tlie 
life  ;  and  I  see  just  that  provision  made,  which  is  com- 
petent to  the  highest  ends  and  effects  on  this  heart  and 
this  world. 

The  Bible  resembles  an  extensive  and  higlily  culti- 
vated garden,  where  there  is  a  vast  variety  and  pro- 
fusion of  fruits  and  flowers  :  some  of  which  are  more 
essential  or  more  splendid  than  others  ;  but  there  is  not 
a  blade  suffered  to  grow  in  it,  which  has  not  its  use  and 
l)eauty  in  the  system.  Salvation  for  sinners,  is  the 
grand  truth  presented  every  where,  and  in  all  points  of 
light  ;  but  the  pure  in  heart  sees  a  thousand  traits  of 
the  divine  character,  of  himself,  and  of  the  world — some 
striking  and  bold,  others  cast  as  it  were  into  the  shade, 
and  designed  to  be  searched  for  and  examined — some 
direct,  others  by  way  of  intimation  or  inference. 

He,  who  reads  the  Scripture,  only  in  the  translation, 
is  meanly  prepared  as  a  public  teacher.  The  habit  of 
reading  the  Scriptures  in  the  original  throws  a  new 
light  and  sense  over  numberless  passages.    The  origi- 


160 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


nal  has,  indeed,  been  obtruded  so  frequentlj',  and  some- 
times so  absurdly,  on  the  hearers,  that  their  confidence 
in  the  translation  has  been  shaken.  The  judicious  line 
of  conduct  herein,  is — To  think  with  the  wise,  and  talk 
with  the  vulgar — to  attain,  as  I'ar  us  possible  and  by  all 
means,  the  true  sense  and  force  of  every  passage  ;  and, 
wherever  that  differs  from  the  received  translation,  work 
it  in  imperceptibly,  that  the  hearers  may  be  instructed 
while  they  receive  no  prejudice  against  that  forju  in 
Avhich  they  enjoy  the  Scriptures. 

No  man  will  preach  the  Gospel  so  freely  as  the 
Scriptures  j^reach  it,  unless  he  will  submit  to  talk  like 
an  Antinouiian,  in  the  estimation  of  a  great  body  of 
Christians  ;  nor  will  any  man  preach  it  so  practically 
as  the  Scriptures,  unless  he  will  submit  to  be  called, 
by  as  large  a  body,  an  Arminian.  Many  think  that 
they  find  a  middle  path  :  which  is,  in  fact,  neither  one 
thing  nor  another  ;  .since  it  is  not  the  incomprehensible, 
but  grand  plan  of  the  Bible.  It  is  soine«  hat  of  human 
contrivance.  It  savors  of  human  poverty  and  little- 
ness. 


Were  the  Scriptures  required  to  supplj"  a  direct 
answer  to  every  question  which  even  a  sincere  inquirer 
might  ask,  it  would  be  impracticable.  They  form, 
even  now,  a  large  volume.  The  method  of  instruction 
adopted  in  them  is,  therefore,  this  : — The  rule  is  given  : 
the  doctrine  is  stated  :  examples  are  brought  forward — 
cases  in  point,  which  illustrate  the  rule  and  the  doc- 
trine :  and  this  is  found  sufficient  for  every  upright 
and  humble  mind. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


161 


The  simple  and  unprejudiced  study  of  tlic  Bible  is 
the  death  of  religious  extravagance. — Many  read  it 
under  a  particular  bias  of  tlie  mind.  They  read  books, 
written  by  others,  under  the  same  views.  Their  preach- 
ing and  conversation  run  in  the  same  channel.  If  tliey 
could  awaken  themselves  from  this  state,  and  come  to 
read  the  whole  Scripture  for  every  thing  which  they 
could  find  there,  they  would  start  as  from  a  dream — 
amazed  at  the  humble,  meek,  forbearing,  holy,  heaven- 
ly character  of  tiie  simple  religion  of  the  Scriptures,  to 
which,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  their  eyes  had  been 
blinded. 


The  right  way  of  interpreting  Scripture,  is,  to  take 
it  as  we  find  it,  without  any  attempt  to  force  it  into  any 
particular  system.  Whatever  may  be  fairly  inferred 
from  Scripture,  we  need  not  fear  to  insist  on.  Many 
passages  speak  the  language  of  what  is  called  Calvin- 
ism, and  that  in  almost  the  strongest  terms  :  I  woidd 
not  have  a  man  clip  and  curtail  these  passages,  to  bring 
them  down  to  some  system :  let  him  go  with  them  in 
their  free  and  full  sense  ;  for  otherwise,  if  he  do  not  ab- 
solutely pervert  them,  he  will  attenuate  their  energy. 
But,  let  him  look  at  as  many  more,  which  speak  tiie 
language  of  Arminianism,  and  let  him  go  all  the  way 
with  these  also.  God  has  been  pleased  thus  to  state 
and  to  leave  the  thing  ;  and  all  our  attempts  to  distort 
it,  one  way  or  the  other,  are  puny  and  contemptible. 

A  MAN  may  find  much  amusement  in  the  Bible — va- 
riety of  prudential  instruction — abundance  of  sublimity 
and  poetry  :  but,  if  he  stops  tliere,  he  stops  short  of  its 
o2 


162 


REMAINS  OF  MU.  CECIL, 


great  end ;  for,  the  testimony  of  Jesus  is  the  spirit 
of  prophecy.  The  grand  secret  in  the  study  of  llie 
Scriptures,  is,  to  discover  Jesus  Christ  tlierein,  the  v;ay, 
the  truth,  and  the  life. 

In  reading  the  Scriptures,  we  are  apt  to  tliink  God 
farther  removed  from  us,  tlian  from  the  persons  to  whom 
he  sjjake  therein  :  tlie  knowledge  of  God  will  rectify 
this  error  ;  as  if  God  could  be  farther  from  us  than  from 
them.  In  reading  the  Old  Testament  especially,  we 
are  apt  to  think  that  the  things  spoken  there,  in  the  pro- 
phet Hosea,  for  instance,  have  little  relation  to  us  :  the 
knovvledge  taught  by  Christian  experience  will  rectify 
this  error  :  as  if  religion  were  not  always  tlie  same  sort 
of  transaction  between  God  and  the  soul. 


There  are  two  different  ways  of  treating  the  truths 
of  the  Gospel — the  scientific  and  the  siin'LE.  It  was 
seriously  given  me  in  charge,  when  I  first  entered  into 
the  ministry,  by  a  female  who  attended  my  church,  that 
I  should  study  Baxter's  "Catholic  Tiieology."  I  did 
so  :  but  the  best  idea  that  I  acquired  from  this  labor 
was,  that  the  most  sagacious  and  subtle  men  can  make 
out  little  beyond  the  plain,  obvious,  and  broad  state- 
ment of  truth  ill  the  Scriptures.  I  should  think  it  a 
very  proper  and  suitable  punishment  for  a  conceited 
and  pragmatical  dogmatist,  to  oblige  him  to  digest  that 
book.  Another  great  truth,  indeed,  we  may  gatlier 
from  it ;  and  that  is,  that  the  intemperate  men,  on  either 
.side,  are  very  little  aware  of  the  consequences,  which 
may  be  legitimately  drawn  from  their  principles. — 
Even  Dr.  Owen  has  erred.    I  would  not  compare  him 


RKMAINS  OF  MR.  CKCIL. 


163 


in  <liis  respect,  with  Baxter  ;  for  he  has  handled  his 
points  with  far  greater  wisdom  and  simplicity  :  yet  he 
errs  ex  ahnndanti.  He  attempts  to  make  out  things 
with  more  accuracy,  and  clearness,  and  system,  than 
the  Bible  will  warrant.  The  Bible  scorns  to  be  treated 
scientifically.  After  all  your  accurate  statements,  it 
Mill  leave  you  aground.  The  Bible  does  not  come 
round,  and  ask  our  opinion  of  its  contents.  It  pro- 
])oses  to  us  a  constitution  of  grace,  which  we  are  to  re- 
ceive, though  we  do  not  wholly  comprehend  it.  Num- 
berless questions  may  be  started  on  the  various  parts  of 
this  constitution.  Much  of  it  I  cannot  understand,  even 
of  what  respects  myself ;  but  I  am  called  to  act  on  it. 
And  this  is  agreeable  to  analogy.  My  child  Avill  ask 
me  questions  on  the  fitness  or  unfitness  of  what  I  enjoin  ; 
but  I  silence  him  :  "You  are  not  yet  able  to  comprehend 
this  :  your  business  is,  to  beheve  me  and  obey  me."' 
But  the  schoolmen  will  not  be  satisfied  with  this  view  of 
things  :  ^et  they  can  make  nothing  out  satisfactorily. 
They  have  their  de  re,  and  their  de  nomine  ;  but  no- 
thing is  gained  by  these  attempts  at  clearness  and  nice 
distinctions.  These  very  accurate  men,  who  think  they 
adjust  every  thing  with  precision,  cannot  agi-ee  among 
one  another,and  do  little  else  than  puzzle  plainer  minds. 

\Vh.\tever  definitions  men  have  given  of  religion,  I 
can  find  none  so  accm'ately  descriptive  of  it  as  this — 
that  it  is  such  a  belief  of  the  Bible  as  maintains  a  li\ing 
influence  on  the  heart. — Men  may  speculate,  criticise, 
admire,  dispute  about,  doubt,  or  believe  the  Bible  :  but 
tlie  KKLiGiois  MAN  is  sucli  bccause  he  so  believes  it, 
as  to  carry  a  practical  sense  of  its  truths  on  his  mind. 


164 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


The  fears  of  the  general  class  of  Christians  are  con- 
cerned about  the  superstructure  of  religion  ;  but  those 
of  speculative  minds  chiefly  relate  to  the  foundation. 
The  less  thinking  man  doubts  w  liether  he  is  on  tlie  foun- 
dation :  he  whose  mind  is  of  a  more  intellectual  turn 
doubts  concerning  the  foundation  itself.  I  have  met 
with  many  of  these  speculative  cases.  Attacks  of  tiiis 
nature  are  generally  sudden.  A  suspicion  will,  by  sur- 
prise, damp  the  heart;  and,  for  a  time,  will  paint  the 
Bible  as  a  fable.  I  have  found  it  useful  on  such  occa- 
sions, to  glance  over  the  whole  thread  of  Scripture. 
The  whole  presented  in  such  a  view,  brings  back  the 
mind  to  its  proper  tone  :  the  indehble  characters  of 
simplicity  and  truth  impress  with  irresistible  effect  that 
heart,  which  can  discern  tliem  as  having  once  felt  them. 


ON  THE  OLD  AND  NEW  DISPENSATIONS. 

The  Old  and  New  Testaments  contain  but  one 
scheme  of  religion.  Neither  part  of  this  scheme  can  be 
•understood  without  the  otiier  ;  and,  therefore,  great  er- 
rors have  arisen  from  separating  them.  They  are  like 
the  rolls  on  which  they  were  anciently  written,  before 
books  of  the  present  form  were  invented.  It  is  but  one 
subject  and  one  system,  from  beginning  to  end;  but 
the  view  which  we  obtain  of  it  grows  clearer  and  clear- 
er, as  we  unwind  the  roll  that  contains  it. 

There  is  one  grand  and  striking  feature  of  distinc- 
tion between  the  spirit  of  the  Old  Testament  dispensa- 
tion and  that  of  the  New. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


165 


The  Old  Dispensation  was  a  dispensation  of  limits 
wayniarks,  forms  and  fashions  :  every  thing  was  weigli- 
ed  and  measured:  if  a  man  did  but  gather  sticks  on 
the  Sabbath,  he  was  to  be  stoned  without  mercy  ;  if  a 
Jew  brought  an  offering,  it  was  of  no  avail  if  not  pre- 
sented at  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  :  the  manner,  the 
time,  the  circumstances  were  all  minutely  instituted ; 
and  no  devotion  or  piety  of  spirit  could  exempt  a  mau 
from  the  yoke  of  all  these  observances,  for  God  had  ap- 
pointed these  as  the  way  in  which  he  chose  that  a  de- 
vout Jew  should  express  his  state  of  mind. 

But  the  New  Dispensation  changed  the  whole  system. 
Religion  was  now  to  become  more  peculiarly  a  spiritual 
transaction  between  God  and  the  soul ;  and  indepen- 
dent, in  a  higher  measure  than  ever  before,  of  all  posi- 
tive institutions.  Its  few,  simple  institutions  had  no 
further  object,  than  the  preservation  of  the  unity,  order, 
soundness,  and  purity  of  the  church — in  regard  to  doc- 
trine, government,  and  discipline. 

Nor  had  these  appointments  that  character  of  unac- 
commodating inflexibility,  which  marked  the  institu- 
tions of  the  Old  Dispensation.  All  nations,  men  of  all 
habits  and  manners,  are  to  drink  life  from  the  benefi- 
cent stream  as  it  flows.  It  is  to  throw  down  no  ob- 
structions, that  are  not  absolutely  incompatible  witii  its 
progress.  But  it  is  appointed  to  pervade  every  place 
which  it  visits.  Some,  it  enters  without  obstruction, 
and  passes  directly  through.  In  some,  it  meets  with 
mounds  and  obstacles  ;  yet  rises  till  it  finds  an  entrance. 
Others  are  so  fenced  and  fortified,  that  it  winds  round 
them  and  flows  forward  :  continuing  to  do  so,  till  it,  at 
length,  finds  some  method  of  insinuating  itself. 


166 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  Cr.CIL. 


And  thus  llie  dispensation  of  grace  in  llie  cliurcli  ac- 
commodates itself  to  the  various  tempers  and  habits 
whicli  it  finds  in  diiierent  ages^  nations,  and  bodies  of 
men  :  it  leav  es  in  existence  numberless  opinions  and  pre- 
judices, if  they  are  not  inconsistent  with  its  main  de- 
sign, and  mingles  and  insinuates  itself  among  them. 
It  has  not  limited  Christianity  to  any  one  form  of  church 
polity,  ordained  and  perfected  in  all  its  parts  by  divine 
authority  :  but  Christians  are  left  to  act  herein  accord- 
ing to  circumstances,  and  to  the  exercise  of  sound  dis- 
cretion under  those  circumstances. 


ON  TYPICAL  AND   ALLEGORICAL  EXPLANATIONS  OF 
SCRIPTURE. 

It  might  be  expected,  that,  when  God  had  deter- 
mined to  send  his  Son  into  the  world,  there  would  be  a 
train  and  concatenation  of  circumstances  preparatory 
to  his  coming — that  the  historj',  which  declared  that  lie 
was  to  come,  should  exhibit  many  persons  and  things, 
which  would  form  a  grand  preparation  for  the  event, 
though  not  so  many  as  an  absurd  fancy  might  imagine. 

There  is  a  certain  class  of  persons  who  wish  to  rid 
themselves  of  the  types.  Sikes  insists  that  even  the 
brazen  serpent  is  called  in  by  our  Lord  by  way  of  illus- 
tration only,  and  not  as  a  designed  type.  Robinson, 
of  Cambridge,  when  he  began  to  verge  toward  Socin- 
ianisni,  began  to  ridicule  the  types  ;  and  to  find  matter 
of  sport  in  the  pomegranates  and  the  bells  of  the  high 
priest's  garment.  At  all  events,  the  subject  should 
not  be  treated  with  levity  and  irreverence  :  it  deserves 
serious  reflection. 

With  respect  to  the  expediency  of  employhig  the 

9 


arniTO  or  loi.  ctcit. 


lypfs  mocli  in  tfie  pulpit,  that  is  another  qoestion.  I 
seldom  employ  them.  I  am  jealous  for  truth  and  its 
sanctions.  Tlte  Old  Dispensation  was  a  trpical  dis- 
pensation :  but  the  New  is  a  dispensalio^  anrolled- 
When  speaking  of  the  typical  dispensation,  we  most 
admre  a  master,  «te  St.  PanL  Bat  to  os,  modesty 
beeonies  a  doty  in  treating  such  subjects  m  oar  minis- 
try. Remember,  *  Thit  u  nom  other  but  the  house 
of  God  I  and  thU  u  the  gate  ofhearen  !  How  dread- 
ful if  I  lead  thousands  with  nonsense  !— if  I  kwe  the  op- 
portunity of  impresong  soUd  truths  I  waste  ther 
precious  time  I" 

A  minister  should  say  to  himself:  « I  wonU  labor  to 
eat  off  occasions  of  objecting  to  the  truth.  I  would  la- 
bor to  grapple  with  men's  conscieaces.  I  would  shew 
them  that  there  is  no  strange  twist  in  our  view  of  reli- 
gioB-  I  omst  avoid,  as  mnch  as  posable,  having  mj 
judgment  caDed  in  qnestioo:  many  watch  for  this,  and 
will  avail  themselves  of  any  advantage.  Some  wbo 
hear  me,  are  dios  continually  seeking  excuses  for  sot 
listening  to  the  warnings  and  imitatioos  of  Oewotd: 
they  arc  endeavoring  to  get  out  of  ov  reach;  Ym.  I 
would  hold  them  last  by  such  passages  as,  «  Wh^ 
shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his  soul!' 

3Iany  men  labor  to  make  the  Bible  TsTm  BiMe. 
Thisisooewayofgettingitsyokeofftheirnecks.  The 
VEASiKG,  however  of  the  Bible  is  the  KMe.  If  I  preach 
then  o.  imp^  r^fcteoBwas,  for  instance,  why  shodd 
I  preach  from,  the  skies  pour  dourn  righteousness, 
and  then  anathenwtire  men  for  not  believing  the  d«^ 
trine,  when  it  is  not  declared  in  the  passage,  and  then 
are  hundreds  <rf^ places  so  expressly  to  the  point? 


108 


REMAINS  OF  MU,  CECIL. 


Most  of  tlie  folly  on  this  subject  of  allegorical  interpre- 
lation,  has  arisen  from  a  want  of  holy  awe  on  the  mind. 
An  evil  fashion  may  lead  some  men  into  it ;  and,  so  far, 
the  case  is  somewhat  extenuated.  We  should  ever  re- 
member, however,  that  it  is  a  very  different  thing  to  al- 
legorize the  New  Dispensation  from  allegorizing  the 
Old  :  the  New  is  a  dispensation  of  substance  and  re- 
alities. 

When  a  careless  young  man,  I  remember  to  have  felt 
alarms  in  iny  conscience  from  some  preachers ;  while 
others,  from  this  method  of  treating  their  subjects,  let 
me  off  easily.  I  heard  the  man  as  a  weak  allegorizer : 
I  despised  him  as  a  foolish  preacher :  till  I  met  with 
some  plain,  simple,  solid  man,  who  seized  and  urged 
the  obvious  meaning.  I  shall,  therefore,  carry  to  my 
grave  a  deep  conviction  of  the  danger  of  entering  far 
into  typical  and  allegorical  interpretations. 

Accommodation  of  Scripture,  if  sober,  will  give  va- 
riety. The  apostles  do  this  so  far  as  to  show  that  it  may 
have  its  use  and  advantage.  It  should,  however,  never 
be  taken  as  a  ground-work,  but  employed  only  in  the 
M  ay  of  allusion.  1  may  use  the  passage,  there  is  a 
friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother,  by  way  of 
allusion  to  Christ ;  but  I  cannot  employ  it  as  the  ground- 
work of  a  discourse  on  him. 


ON  THE  DIVERSITY  OF  CHARACTER  IN  CHRISTIANS, 
AND  ON  CORRECTING  THE  DEFECTS  IN  OUR 
CHARACTER. 

In  DISCOVERING  AND  COUNTERACTING  THE  DE- 
FECTS OF  OUR  o\yN  CHARACTER,  it  is  of  cliief  import- 
ance that  we  really  intend  to  ascertain  the  truth. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


169 


The  iNTENTfON  is  extremely  defective  in  us  all.  The 
man  who  thinks  he  has  such  honest  intention,  yet  has 
it  very  imperfectly.  He  says — "  Touch  me  :  but  touch 
me  like  a  gentleman.  Do  not  intrude  on  the  delicacies 
of  society."  The  real  meaning  of  which  is,  that  he  has 
no  intention  of  hearing  the  truth  from  you.  A  man,  who 
has  a  wound  to  be  healed,  comes  to  the  surgeon  with 
such  an  intention  to  get  it  healed,  that  if  he  suspected 
his  skill  or  his  fidelity  he  would  seek  another. 

Intention,  or  a  man's  really  desiring  to  know  the 
truth  concerning  himself,  would  produce  attention. 
He  would  soon  find,  that  there  is  little  close  business  in 
a  man,  who  does  not  withdraw  from  the  world. 

He  will  begin  with  self-suspicion.  "  Perhaps  I  am 
such  or  such  a  man.  I  see  defects  in  all  my  friends, 
and  I  must  be  a  madman  not  to  suppose  that  I  also 
liave  mine.  I  see  defects  in  my  iriends,  which  they 
not  only  do  not  themselves  see,  but  they  will  not  suffer 
others  to  show  these  defects  to  them.  1  must,  there- 
fore, take  it  for  granted  that  I  am  a  more  foolish  and 
pragmatical  fellow  than  I  can  conceive." 

If  he  begin  thus,  then  he  will  be  willing  to  proceed  a 
step  further  :  "  Let  me  try  if  I  cannot  reach  these  de- 
fects." I  have  found  out  myself  by  seeing  my  picture 
in  another  man.  I  would  choose  men  of  my  own  con- 
stitution :  other  men  would  give  me  no  proper  picture 
of  myself.  In  such  men,  I  can  see  actions  to  be  ridi- 
culous or  absurd,  when  I  could  not  have  seen  them  to  be 
so  in  myself.  We  may  learn  some  features  of  our  por- 
trait from  enemies  :  an  enemy  gives  a  hard  feature  pro- 
bably, but  it  is  often  a  truer  likeness  than  can  be  obtain- 
ed from  a  friend.  What  with  your  friend's  tenderness  for 
P 


170  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 

you,  and  your  own  tenderness  for  yourself,  you  cannot 
get  at  the  true  feature.  We  should,  moreover,  encour- 
age our  friends.  You  cannot,  in  one  case  in  ten,  go  to  a 
man  on  a  business  of  this  nature,  without  offending  him. 
He  will  allege  such  and  such  excuses  for  the  defect,  and 
fritter  it  away  to  nothing.  This  shows  the  hypocrisy— 
the  falsehood-the  self-love-and  the  flattery  of  the  heart. 
This  endeavor  to  conceal  or  palliate  defects,  instead  of 
a  desire  to  discover  them,  grows  up  with  us  from  infancy. 
There  is  something  so  deceitful  in  sin!  A  man  is 
brought  to  believe  his  own  lie  !  He  is  so  accustomed  to 
hide  himself  from  himself,  that  he  is  surprised  when  an- 
other detects  and  unmasks  him.  Hazael  verily  believed 
himself  incapable  of  becoming  what  tlie  prophet  foretold. 

Many  motives  lu-ge  us  to  attempt  a  rectification  of 
our  defects.  Consider  the  importance  of  character  :  he 
who  says  he  cares  not  what  men  think  of  him,  he  is  on 
a  very  low  form  in  the  school  of  experience  and  wisdom  : 
character  and  money  effect  almost  every  thing.  It 
should  be  considered,  too,  how  much  we  have  smarted 
for  want  of  attending  to  our  defects  :  nineteen  out  of 
twenty  of  our  smarting  times,  arise  from  this  cause. 

In  counteracting  our  defects,  however,  we  should  be 
cautious  not  to  blunder  by  imitation  of  others.  There 
are  such  men  in  the  world  as  saint-errants.  One  of 
these  men  takes  up  the  History  of  Ignatius  Loyola  ;  and 
notliing  seems  worthy  of  his  endeavor,but  to  be  just  such 
a  man  in  all  the  extravagancies  of  iiis  charar'er  and 
conduct.  We  should  search  till  we  find  where  our 
character  fails,  and  then  amend  it— not  attempt  to  be- 
come another  man. 

A  WISE  man,  who  is  seriously  concerned  to  learii  the 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  171 

truth  respecting  liimself,  will  not  spurn  it  even  from  a 
fool.  The  great  men  who  kept  fools  in  their  retinue, 
learnt  more  truth  from  them  than  from  their  compan- 
ions. A  real  self-observer  will  ask  whether  there  is 
any  truth  in  what  the  fool  says  of  him.  Nay,  a  truth, 
that  may  be  uttered  in  envy  or  anger,  will  not  lose  its 
weight  with  him.  The  man,  Avho  is  determined  to  find 
happiness,  must  bear  to  have  it  even  beaten  into  him. 
No  man  ever  found  it  by  chance,  or  "  yawned  it  into 
being  witli  a  wish."  When  I  was  young,  my  mother  had 
a  servant  whose  conduct  I  thought  truly  wise.  A  man 
was  hired  to  brew  ;  and  this  servant  was  to  watch  his 
method,  in  order  to  learn  his  art.  In  the  course  of  the 
process,  sometiiing  was  done  wliich  she  did  not  under- 
stand. Slie  asked  him,  and  he  abused  her  with  the  vil- 
est epithets  for  her  ignorance  and  stupidity.  My  mother 
asked  her  when  she  related  it,  how  she  bore  such  abuse. 
"  I  would  be  called,"  said  she,  "  worse  names  a  thous- 
and times,  for  the  sake  of  the  information  which  I  got 
out  of  him." 

If  a  man  would  seriously  set  himself  to  this  work,  he 
must  retire  from  the  crowd.  He  nmst  not  live  in  a  bus- 
tle. If  he  is  always  driving  through  the  business  of  the 
day,  he  will  be  so  in  harness  as  not  to  observe  the  road 
he  is  going. 

He  must  place  perfect  standards  before  iiis  eyes. 
Every  man  has  his  favorite  notions  ;  and,  therefore,  no 
man  is  a  proper  standaj-d.  The  perfect  standard  is 
only  to  be  found  in  Scripture.  Elijah  meets  Ahab,  and 
holds  up  the  perfect  standard  before  his  eyes,  till  he 
shrinks  into  himself*  I  have  found  great  benefit  in 
•  I  Kings  xviii.  17,  etc. 


172 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


being  sickened  and  disgusted  with  the  false  standards 
of  men.  I  turn,  with  stronger  convictions,,  to  the  per- 
fect standard  of  God's  word. 

He  should  also  commune  tvith  his  own  heart  upon 
his  bed—''  How  did  I  fall,  at  such  or  such  a  time,  into 
my  peculiar  humors  !  Had  any  other  man  done  so,  I 
should  have  lost  my  patience  with  him." 

Above  all,  he  must  make  his  defects  matter  of  con- 
stant prayer — Search  me,  0  God,  andknoiv  my  heart: 
try  me,  and  know  my  thoughts  :  and  see  if  there  he 
any  wicked  way  in  me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  ever- 
lasting. 

Men  are  to  be  estimated,  as  Johnson  says,  by  the 
MASS  OF  CHARACTER.  A  block  of  tin  may  have  a  grain 
of  silver,  but  still  it  is  tin  ;  and  a  block  of  silver  may 
liave  an  alloy  of  tin,  but  still  it  is  silver.  The  mass  of 
Elijah's  character  was  excellence  ;  yet  he  was  not  with- 
out alloy.  The  mass  of  Jehu's  character  was  base  ; 
yet  he  had  a  portion  of  zeal  which  was  directed  by 
God  to  great  ends.  Bad  men  are  made  the  same  use 
of  as  scaifolds  :  they  are  employed  as  means  to  erect  a 
building,  and  then  are  taken  down  and  destroyed. 

We  must  make  great  allowance  for  constitution.  I 
could  name  a  man,  who,  though  a  good  man,  is  more 
unguarded  in  his  tongue  than  many  immoral  persons  : 
.shall  I  condemn  him  ?  he  breaks  down  here,  and  almost 
here  only.  On  the  other  hand,  many  are  so  mild  and 
gentle,  as  to  make  one  wonder  how  such  a  character 
could  be  formed  without  true  grace  entering  into  its 
composition. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


173 


God  has  given  to  every  man  a  peculiar  constitution. 
No  man  is  to  say,  "  I  am  such  or  .such  a  man,  and  I  can 
be  no  other — such  or  such  is  my  way,  and  I  am  what 
God  made  me."  This  is  true,  in  a  sound  sense  :  but 
in  an  unsound  sense,  it  has  led  men  foolishly  and  wick- 
edly to  charge  their  eccentricities  and  even  their  crimes 
on  God.  It  is  every  man's  duty  to  understand  his  own 
constitution  ;  and  to  apply  to  it  the  rein  or  the  spur,  as 
it  may  need.  All  men  cannot  do,  nor  ought  they  to  do, 
all  things  in  the  same  way,  nor  even  the  same  things. 
But  there  are  common  points  of  duty,  on  which  all  men 
of  all  habits  are  to  meet.  The  free  horse  is  to  be 
checked,  perhaps,  up-hill,  and  the  sluggish  one  to  be 
urged  ;  but  the  same  spirit,  which  would  have  exhaust- 
ed itself  before,  shows  itself  probably  in  resistance 
down-hill,  when  he  feels  the  breeching  press  upon  him 
behind — but  he  must  be  whipped  out  of  his  resistance. 

There  is  a  large  class  of  Christians,  who  want  dis- 
crimination in  religion.  They  are  sound  and  excellent 
men,  but  they  are  not  men  of  deep  experience.  They 
are  not  men  of  Owen's,  Gilpin's,  Rutherford's,  Adams's, 
or  Brainerd's  school.  They  have  a  general,  but  not  a 
minute  acquaintance,  with  the  combat  between  sin  and 
grace  in  the  heart.  I  have  learnt  not  to  bring  deeply 
experimental  subjects  before  such  persons.  They  can- 
not understand  them,  but  are  hkely  to  be  distressed  by 
them.  This  difference  between  persons  of  genuine  piety 
arises  from  constitution — or  from  the  manner  in  which 
the  grace  of  God  first  met  them — or  from  the  nature 
and  degree  of  temptation  through  which  God  has  led 
them.  A  inind  finely  constituted,  or  of  strong  passions 
p  2 


174 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


— a  mind  roused  in  its  sins,  rather  than  one  drawn  in- 
sensibly— a  mind  trained  in  a  severe  school  for  liigh  ser- 
vices— is  generally  the  subject  of  this  deeply  interior 
acquaintance  with  religion. 

There  is  a  great  diversity  of  character  among  real 
Christians.  Education,  constitution,  and  circumstances 
will  fully  explain  this  diversity. 

He  has  seen  but  little  of  life,  who  does  not  discern 
every  where  the  effects  of  education  on  men's  opinioas 
and  habits  of  thinking.  Two  children  bring  out  of  the 
nursery  that,  which  displays  itself  throughout  their  lives. 
And  who  is  the  man  that  can  rise  above  his  dispensa- 
tion, and  can  say,  "  You  have  been  teaching  me  non- 
sense ?" 

As  to  CONSTITUTION — look  at  Martin  Luther  :  wn  may 
see  the  man  every  day :  his  eyes,  and  nose,  and  mouth 
attest  his  character.  Look  at  Melancthon :  he  is  like 
a  snail  with  his  couple  of  horns  :  he  puts  out  Ids  horns 
and  feels — and  feels — and  feels.  No  education  could 
have  rendered  these  two  men  alike.  Their  diflerence 
began  in  the  womb.  Luther  dashes  in  saying  liis 
things :  Melancthon  must  go  round  about — he  must 
consider  what  the  Greek  says,  and  what  the  Syriac 
says.  Some  men  are  born  minute  men — lexicograph- 
ers— of  a  German  character :  they  will  hunt  through 
libraries  to  rectify  a  syllable.  Other  men  are  born 
keen  as  a  razor :  they  have  a  sharp,  severe,  strong  acu- 
men :  they  cut  every  thing  to  pieces  :  their  minds  are 
like  a  case  of  instruments  ;  touch  which  you  will,  it 
wounds  :  they  crucify  a  modest  man.  Such  men  should 
aim  at  a  right  knowledge  of  character.    If  they  attain- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


175 


ed  this,  tliey  would  find  out  the  sin  that  easily  besets 
them.  The  greater  the  capacity  of  such  men,  the  great- 
er their  cruelty.  They  ought  to  blunt  their  instru- 
ments. They  ought  to  keep  them  in  a  case.  Other 
men  are  ambitious — fond  of  power ;  pride  and  power 
give  a  velocity  to  their  motions.  Others  are  born  with 
a  quiet,  retiring  mind.  Some  are  naturally  fierce,  and 
otliers  naturally  mild  and  placable.  Men  often  take  to 
themselves  great  credit  for  what  they  owe  entirely  to 
nature.  Tf  we  would  judge  rightly,  we  should  see  that 
narrowness  or  expansion  of  mind,  niggardliness  or 
generosity,  delicacy  or  boldness,  have  less  of  merit  or 
demerit  than  we  commonly  assign  to  them. 


Circumstances,  also,  are  not  sufficiently  taken  into 
the  account,  when  we  estimate  character.  For  example 
— we  generally  censiu-e  the  Reformers  and  Puritans 
as  dogmatical,  morose,  systematic  men.  But,  it  is 
vflsier  to  walk  on  a  road,  than  to  form  that  road.  Oth- 
er men  labored,  and  zve  have  entered  into  their  la- 
bors. In  a  fine  day,  I  can  walk  abroad ;  but,  in  a 
rough  and  stormy  day,  I  should  find  it  another  thing  to 
turn  coachman  and  dare  all  weathers.  These  men  had 
to  bear  the  bui-den  and  heat  of  the  day :  they  had  to 
fight  against  hard  times  :  they  had  to  stand  up  against 
learning  and  power.  Their  times  were  not  like  ours  : 
a  man  may  now  think  what  he  will,  and  nobody  cares 
what  he  thinks.  A  man  of  that  school  was,  of  course, 
stitl",  rigid,  unyielding.  Tuckney  was  such  a  man  : 
Winchcot  wasforsmoothingthings,and  walking  abroad. 
We  see  circumstances  operating  in  many  other  ways. 
A  minister  unmarried,  and  the  same  man  married,  are 


176 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


very  different  men.  A  minister  in  a  small  parish,  and 
Uie  same  man  in  a  large  sphere  where  liis  sides  are  spur- 
red and  goaded,  are  very  different  men.  A  minister 
on  tenter  liooks — harrassed — schooled,  and  the  same 
man  nursed — cherished — put  into  a  hot-house,  are  very 
different  men.  Some  of  us  are  hot  house  plants.  We 
grow  tall :  not  better — not  stronger.  Talents  are  among 
the  circumstances  which  form  the  diversity  of  character. 
A  man  of  talents  feels  his  omi  powers,  and  throws  him- 
self into  that  line  which  he  can  pursue  witli  most  suc- 
cess. Saurin  felt  that  he  could  flourish — lighten — thun- 
der— enchant,  like  a  magician.  Every  one  should  se- 
riously consider,  how  far  liis  talents  and  turn  of  mind 
and  circumstances  drive  him  out  of  the  right  road.  It 
is  an  easy  thing  for  a  man  of  vigor  to  bring  a  quiet  one 
before  his  bar  :  and  it  is  easy  for  this  quiet  man  to  con- 
demn the  other  :  yet  both  may  be  really  pious  men — 
serving  God  \\ith  their  best  powers.  Every  man  has 
Ids  peculiar  gift  of  God  ;  one  after  this  manner,  and 
the  other  after  that. 

ON  THE  FALLEN  NATURE  OF  MAN. 

I  SEEM  to  acquire  little  new  knowledge  on  any  sub- 
ject, compared  to  that  which  I  acquire  conrerning  man. 
This  subject  is  inexhaustible.  I  have  lately  read  Col- 
quhoun's  Treatise  on  the  "  Police  of  the  ^letropolis," 
and  Barruell's  "  Memoirs  of  Jacobinism."  When  we 
preachers  draw  pictures  of  human  nature  in  the  pulpit, 
we  are  told  that  we  calumniate  it.  Calumniate  it ! — 
Let  such  censm-ers  read  these  writers,  and  confess  that 
we  are  novices  in  painting  the  vices  of  the  heart.  All 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  177 

of  US  live  to  make  discoveries  of  the  evils  of  the  heart- 
not  of  its  virtues.  All  our  new  knowledge  of  human 
nature  is  occuiiied  with  its  evil. 

Bartholomew  fair  is  one  of  the  most  perfect  exhibi- 
tions of  unrestrained  human  nature  in  the  whole  world. 
The  monkey,  the  tiger,  the  wolf,  the  liog,  and  the  goat, 
are  not  only  to  be  found  in  their  own,  but  in  human  form  ; 
with  all  their  savageness,  brutality,  and  filthiness.  It 
displays  human  nature  in  its  most  degraded,  ridiculous 
and  absurd  conditions.  The  tiger  may  be  seen  in  a 
quiescent  state,  if  we  pass  through  Dyot  street:  he 
couches  there  :  he  blinks.  But,  at  Bartholomew  fair, 
he  is  rampant— vigorous— fierce.  Passing  through  a 
fair  in  a  country  town,  I  witnessed  a  most  instructive 
scene.  Two  withered,  weatherbeaten  wretches  were 
standing  at  the  door  of  a  show  cart,  and  receiving  two- 
pences  from  sweet,  innocent,  ruddy  counlrj-  girls,  who 
paid  their  money,  and  dropped  their  curtsies  ;  while 
these  wretches  smiled  at  their  simplicity,  and  clapped 
them  on  the  back  as  they  entered  the  door.  What  a 
picture  this  of  Satan !  He  sets  off  his  shows,  and  draws  in 
heedless  creatures,  and  takes  from  them  every  thing 
they  have  good  about  them  !  There  was  a  fellow  dress- 
ed out  as  a  zany,  with  a  hump  back  and  a  hump  belly, 
a  lengthened  nose,  and  a  lengthened  chin.  To  what  a 
depth  of  degradation  must  human  nature  be  sunk,  to 
seek  such  resources  !  I  derived  more  instruction  from 
this  scene,  than  I  could  have  done  from  many  elaborate 
theological  treatises. 


View  man  on  whatever  side  we  can — in  his  sensuali- 


178 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


ties,  or  in  his  ferocilies — in  the  sins  of  his  flesh,  or  in  the 
sins  of  his  spirit :  catch  him  when  and  where  you  will — 
his  condition  is  deplorable.  While  he  is  sunk,  in  the  mass 
himself,  he  has  no  perception  of  his  state  :  but  when  he 
begins  to  emerge,  he  looks  down  with  amazement.  He 
sees  but  little,  however,  of  its  abomination  ;  because  he 
has  still  an  affinity  with  the  evil. 

Human  nature  is  like  the  sea,  which  gains  by  tlie 
flow  of  the  tide  in  one  place,  what  it  has  lost  by  the  ebl) 
in  anotlier.  A  man  may  acquiesce  in  the  metliod 
which  God  takes  to  mortily  his  pride  ;  but  he  is  in  dan- 
ger of  growing  proud  of  the  mortification  :  and  so  in 
other  cases. 


ON  THE  NEED  OF  GRACE. 

There  is  something  so  remarkable  in  the  genius  and 
spirit  of  the  Gospel,  that  it  is  not  to  be  miderstood  by 
any  force  of  speculation  and  investigation.  Baxter  at- 
tempted this  method,  and  found  it  vain.  The  state  of 
the  heart  lias  the  chief  influence,  in  the  search  after 
truth.  Humility,  contrition,  simplicity,  sanclily — these 
are  the  handmaids  of  the  understanding  in  the  investi- 
gation of  reUgion. 

How  is  it  that  some  men  labor  in  divine  things  niglit 
and  day,  but  labor  in  vain  ?  Hom'  is  it  that  men  can 
turn  over  the  Bible  from  end  to  end  to  support  en-ors 
and  heresies — absurdities  and  blasphemies?  They 
take  not  the  spirit  with  the  word.  A  spiritual  under- 
standing must  be  given — a  gracious  perception — a 
right  taste. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


179 


"A  VERY  extraordinary  thing,"  said  one,  "  if  I,  who 
Iiave  read  tlic  Bible  over  and  over  in  the  original  lan- 
guages— have  studied  it  day  and  night — and  have  writ- 
ten criticisms  and  comments  on  it :  a  very  extraordin- 
ary tiling  that  I  should  not  be  able  to  discover  that 
meaning  in  the  Scrip'.ures,  which  is  said  to  be  so  plain 
that  a  vay-faring  man  though  a  fool  shall  not  err 
in  discovering  it  !"  And  so  it  is  extraordinary  till  we 
open  this  Bible  ;  and  there  we  see  the  fact  explained. 
The  man  wiio  approaches  the  word  of  God  in  his  wis- 
dom, shall  not  find  what  the  fool  shall  discover  under 
the  teaching  of  divine  wisdom  :  For  it  is  ivrittcn,  I 
will  destroy  the  wisdom  of  the  wise,  and  will  bring 
to  nothing  the  understanding  of  the  prudent — and 
God  hath  chosen  the  foolish  things  of  the  world  to 
confound  the  wise. 

God,  in  his  providence,  seems  to  make  little  account 
of  the  measures  and  contrivances  of  men,  in  accomplish- 
iag  his  designs.  He  will  do  the  work,  and  his  hand  will 
be  seen  in  the  doing  of  it.  We  are  obliged  to  wait  for 
the  tide.  When  that  flows,  and  the  wind  sets  in  fair, 
let  us  hoist  the  sails.  When  the  tide  has  left  a  ship  on 
the  beach,  an  army  may  attempt  to  move  it  in  vain  ; 
but  when  she  has  floated  by  the  water,  a  small  force 
moves  her.  We  must  wait  for  openings  in  Providence. 
In  this  light  I  view  the  darkness  of  the  heathen  world. 
Let  us  follow  every  apparent  leading  of  Providence, 
in  oui-  endeavors  to  communicate  Ught  to  the  heathen  ; 
but,  still,  the  opening  and  the  whole  work  must  be  of 
God.  Thousands,  indeed,  hear  the  Gospel,  who  are  no 
more  impressed  by  it  than  though  they  were  heathens. 


180 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


The  minds  of  some  men  will  stand,  as  it  were,  a  regu- 
lar blockade,  and  yet  yield  to  a  side  blow — sit  unchang- 
ed under  a  searching  ministry,  and  yet  fall  beneath  a 
casual  word.  I  know  such  cases.  We  might  account, 
indeed,  for  them,  in  some  measure,  as  philosophers. 
The  mind,  which  plants  itself  against  and  repells  the 
formal  and  avowed  attacks  of  the  preacher,  may  be  sur- 
prised by  a  hint  addressed,  perhaps,  to  another  :  yet,  af- 
ter all,  the  whole  work  is  of  God.  We  may  make  very 
little,  therefore,  of  the  vehicle.  The  gospel — the  wants 
of  men— the  indisposition  of  the  heart—and  the  mighty 
power  of  God — are  always  and  universally  the  same. 
By  whatever  vehicle  God  conveys  that  mighty  energy, 
which  disposes  man  to  find  the  relief  of  his  wants  in  tiie 
Gospel,  HE  is  still  the  worker.  It  is  a  divine  opera- 
tion of  God's  Holy  Spirit.  If  God  would  raise  up 
heathen  princes  with  the  spirit  of  Peter  the  Great,  or 
Kouli  Khan,  and  send  them  forth  under  the  powerful 
influence  of  Christianity  to  proselyte  their  subjects,  we 
might  expect  the  end  to  be  accomplished  :  but  this  is  a 
scheme  suited  to  our  littleness,  and  not  to  Him,  whose 
thoughts  are  not  as  our  thoughts,  and  whose  ways 
are  not  as  our  ways. 

A  LADY  proposed  to  me  a  case,  which  seemed  to  her 
to  decide  against  those  views  of  religion  called  evangel- 
ical. She  knew  a  most  amiable  girl  who  was  respect- 
ful and  attentive  to  her  parents,  and  engaging  and  love- 
ly to  all  connected  with  her  :  who  had,  however,  no  ob- 
jection to  seeing  a  play  ;  and  had  certainly  nothing  of 
that,  which  she  knew  I  should  call  religion  :  but  she  ask- 
ed if  I  could  believe  that  God  would  condemn  such  a 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


181 


cliaracter  to  everlasting  misery.  Many  persons  view 
tilings  in  tliis  way.  They  set  themselves  up  to  dictate 
to  God  what  should  be  done,  on  points  wliicli  he  only  can 
determine.  If  these  persons  are  ever  cured  of  this  evil, 
it  must  probably  be  in  some  such  way  as  that  by  which 
it  pleased  God  to  teach  Job.  Job  could  assert  his  inte- 
grity and  his  character  against  the  arguments  of  his 
friends  ;  but,  when  God  asked.  Where  v)ast  thou  when 
I  laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth  ?  Job  prostrates 
his  soul  with  this  declaration — I  have  heard  of  thee 
with  the  hearing  of  the  ear,  but  now  mine  eye  seeth 
thee.  \\ herefore  I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  in  dust 
and  ashes. 


Every  thinking  man  will  look  round  him,  when  he 
reflects  on  his  situation  in  this  world  ;  and  will  ask, 
"  What  will  meet  my  case  ?  What  is  it  that  I  want  ? 
What  will  satisfy  me  ?  I  look  at  the  rich — and  I  see 
Ahab,  in  the  midst  of  all  liis  riches,  sick  at  heart  for  a 
garden  of  herbs  !  I  see  Dives,  after  all  his  wealth,  lift- 
ing up  his  eyes  in  hell,  and  begging  for  a  drop  of  water 
to  cool  the  rage  of  his  sufferings  !  I  see  the  rich  fool 
summoned  away,  in  the  very  moment  when  he  was  ex- 
uhing  in  his  hoards  !  If  I  look  at  the  wise — I  see  Solo- 
mon, with  all  his  wisdom,  acting  like  a  fool  ;  and  I 
know,  that,  if  I  possessed  all  his  wisdom,  were  I  left  to 
myself  I  sliould  act  as  he  did.  I  see  Ahithophel,  with 
all  his  policy,  hanging  himself  for  vexation  !  If  I  turn 
to  men  of  pleasure — I  see  that  the  very  sum  of  all 
pleasure  is,  that  it  is  Satan's  bed  into  which  he  casts 
his  slaves  !  I  see  Esau  selhiig  his  birth-right  for  a  mess 
of  pottage  !  I  see  Solomon,  after  all  his  enjoyments, 
ft 


182 


REMAJNS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


leaving  his  name  a  scandal  to  tlie  church  to  the  latest 
age  !  If  I  think  of  honor — take  a  walk  in  Westmin- 
s(er  Abbey — there  is  an  end  of  all  inquiry.  Tiiere  I 
v.  a.]k  among  tlie  mighty  dead  !  There  is  the  winding 
up  of  human  glory  !  And  what  remaiius  of  the  greatest 
men  of  my  country  ? — A  boasting  epitaph  !  None  of 
tliese  things,  then  can  satisfy  me  !  I  must  meet  death 
— I  must  meet  judgment — I  must  meet  God — I  must 
meet  eternity  !" 


ON  THE  OCCASIONS  OF  ENMITY  AGAINST  CHRISTIANITY. 

The  cajzse  of  enmity  against  real  Ciiristianity  is  in 
the  heart.  The  angel  Gabriel  might  exhibit  the  truth, 
but  the  heart  would  rise  in  enmity.  To  suppo.se  that 
there  is  any  ^vay  of  preaching  the  cross  so  as  not  to  of- 
fend the  world,  is  to  know  nothing  of  the  subject. 

There  are  many  occasions,  however,  of  calling  forth 
this  enmity.  Any  man,  who  should  bleed  me,  would 
put  me  to  pain ;  but  he  would  greatly  aggravate  my 
pain,  if  he  rudely  tore  my  skin.  Occasions  may  ren- 
der the  reception  of  that  truth  morally  impossible,  which, 
under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  is  received 
with  difficulty. 

Ignorance,  in  ministers,  is  an  occasion  of  exciting 
enmity  against  Christianity.  A  man  may  betray  ig- 
norance on  almost  every  subject,  except  the  way  of 
salvation.  But  if  othei  s  see  him  to  be  a  fool  ofl"  liis 
own  ground,  they  will  think  a  fool  on  that  ground.  It 
is  a  great  en-or  to  rail  against  human  learning,  so  as  to 
imply  an  undervaluing  of  knowledge.  A  man  may 
have  little  of  what  is  called  learning,  but  he  must  have 
knowledge.    Bunyan  was  such  a  man. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


183 


Religious  profession  was,  at  Hrst  a  conflict — a  sac- 
rifice: now  it  is  become  a  trade.  The  world  sees 
this  spirit  pervade  m^iny  men  :  and  it  is  a  great  occa- 
sion of  enmity.  Men  of  learning  and  character  have 
confirmed  this  impression  :  tliey  have  brouglit  out  this 
mischief,  and  exhibited  it  to  the  world.  Let  any  m;!ii 
look  into  Warburton's  "  Doctrine  of  Grace,"  and  he 
may  sil  down  and  wonder  that  God  should  suffer  such 
occasions  of  enmity  to  arise. 

Fanatical  times  furnish  another  occasion.  The 
days  of  Cromwell,  for  instance.  The  great  enemy  of 
godliness  will  never  want  instruments  to  make  the  best 
of  such  subjects  of  ridicule.  As  long  as  such  a  book 
as  Butler's  Hudibras  is  in  the  world,  it  will  supply  oc- 
casions of  enmity  against  real  religion. 

An  UNHOLY,  INSOLENT  PROFESSUR  OF  RELIGION  OCCa- 

sions  enmity.  He  scorns  and  insults  mankind.  His 
spirit  is  such  as  to  give  thein  occasion  of  contemning 
the  truth  which  he  professes.  The  Avorld  will  allow 
some  men  to  call  it  to  account :  they  ^vill  feel  a  weight 
of  character  in  a  holy  and  just  man. 

Eccentricity,  in  religious  men,  is  another  occasion 
of  enmity.  Ask  an  eccentric  man,  a  question  :  he  will 
stare  in  your  face,  and  look  very  spiritual.  I  knew 
one  of  these  men  who  called  out  to  a  farmer  as  he  was 
passing,  "Farmer  I  what  do  you  know  of  Jesus  Christ?" 
Much  spiritual  pride  lurks  under  this  conduct.  There 
is  want  of  breeding  and  good  sense.  The  world  is  led 
to  form  wrong  associations  by  such  characters  :  "Reli- 
gion makes  a  man  a  fool,  or  mad  :  therefore  I  will  not 
become  religious." 

Injudicious  preaching  increases  the  offence  of  the 


184 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


cross.  Strange  interpretations  of  Scripture — ludicrous 
comparisons — silly  stories — talking  without  thinking  : 
these  are  occasions  of  enmity. 

The  LOOSE  AND  INDISCREET  CONDUCT  of  profcssing 
Christians,  particularly  of  ministers,  is  another  occasion. 
The  world  looks  at  ministers  out  of  the  pulpit,  to  know 
what  they  mean  when  in  it. 

An  OSTENTATIOUS  SPIRIT  in  a  professor  of  religion 
does  great  injury — that  giving  out  that  he  is  some 
great  one.  Even  a  child  will  often  detect  this  spirit, 
when  we  think  no  one  discovers  it. 

Tiie  MANNER  OF  CONDUCTING  THE  DEVOTIONAL  PART 

OF  PUBLIC  SERVICE  is  sometimcs  offensive.  It  is  as 
much  as  to  say,  "we  mean  nothing  by  this  service* 
Have  patience,  and  you  shall  hear  me." 

Slighting  the  offence  of  irregxjl.arity  has  done 
much  harm.  It  was  a  wise  reply  of  a  Spanish  minister 
to  his  king  :  "  Omit  this  affair  :  it  is  but  a  ceremony  !" 
"  A  ceremony  !  Why  the  King  is  a  ceremony  !" 

Good  men  have  given  occasion  of  offence  by  main- 
taining SUSPICIOUS  CONNEXIONS.  There  is  a  wide  dif- 
ference between  my  not  harrassing  and  exposing  a 
doubtful  character,  and  my  endorsing  and  authenticat- 
ing him. 

Contempt  of  men's  prejudices  of  education  will  of- 
fend. It  was  not  thus  with  St.  Paul :  I  am  made  all 
things  to  all  men,  that  I  might  by  all  means  save 
some. 

A  WANT  OF  THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  CROSS  IN  ITS  PROFES- 
SORS increases  the  offence  of  the  cross — that  humility, 
patience,  and  love  to  souls,  which  animated  Clirist  when 
•  Exodus  xii.  26. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


185 


he  ofiered  liimself  on  the  cross  for  the  sins  of  the  world. 

These  are  some  of  the  stumbling-blocks  in  the  way 
of  the  world.  And  wo  unto  the  world,  says  our  Lord, 
because  of  offences  !  for  it  must  needs  be  that  of- 
fences come,  but  wo  unto  him  by  whom  the  offence 
Cometh  !  Every  man,  who  is  zealous  for  the  dilJusion 
of  true  religion,  .should  keep  his  eye  on  all  occasions  of 
oflence,  since  religion,  of  itself  and  in  its  own  native 
beauty,  has  to  encounter  the  natural  enmity  of  the  de- 
generate heart. 


ON  RELIGIOUS  RETIREMENT. 

It  is  difficult  to  speak  on  the  subject  of  Religious 
Retirement.  I  am  fully  persuaded  that  most  religious 
tradesmen  are  defective  in  this  duty,  those  especially 
in  this  great  city.  I  tell  every  one  of  them  so  with 
whom  I  am  intimately  acquainted,  and  they  all  contest 
the  point  with  me. 

Yet  there  are  some  considerations,  which,  in  my  own 
private  judgment  concerning  the  thing,  lead  me  to 
think  that  the  religion  of  a  great  city  is  to  be  viewed  in 
an  aspect  of  its  own.  I  say  not  this  to  those  men  whom 
I  see  endangered  by  the  spirit  of  such  a  place.  Give 
them  an  inch  and  they  will  take  an  ell.  But  1  learn 
from  it  to  aim  at  possibilities,  and  not  to  bend  the  bow 
till  it  breaks. 

I  say  every  where  and  to  all—"  You  must  hold  in- 
tercourse with  God,  or  your  soul  will  die.    You  must 
walk  with  God,  or  Satan  will  walk  with  you.  You 
must  grow  in  grace,  or  you  will  lose  it :   and  you 
q2 


186 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


cannot  do  this,  but  by  appropriating  to  this  object  a 
due  portion  of  your  time,  and  diligently  employing 
suitable  means."  But,  having  said  this,  I  leave  it.  I 
cannot  limit  and  define  to  such  men  the  exact  way  in 
which  they  must  apply  these  principles,  but  the  princi- 
ples themselves  I  insist  on.  What  I  ought  to  do  my- 
self under  my  circumstances,  I  know :  and  what  I 
ought  to  do  were  I  in  trade,  I  seem  now  to  know  :  but 
what  I  really  should  do  were  I  in  trade,  I  know  not  : 
and,  because  I  know  it  not,  I  am  afraid,  in  telling  anoth- 
er man  precisely  how  he  ought  to  apply  this  principle, 
that  I  should  act  hypocritically  and  pharisaically. 
Stated  seasons  of  retirement  ought  to  be  appointed  and 
religiously  observed  ;  but  the  time  and  the  measure  of 
this  retirement  must  be  left  to  a  man's  own  judgment 
and  conscience. 

I  am  restrained  from  dogmatizing  on  the  subject,  by 
reflecting  on  the  sort  of  religion  which  seems  in  fact  to 
be  best  suited  to  human  nature  itself,  and  especially  to 
human  nature  harrassed,  worried,  loaded,  and  urged  as 
it  is  in  this  great  city. 

But  I  am  restrained  also  by  another  consideration. — 
Difference  of  character  seems  to  stamp  a  holy  variety 
on  the  operation  of  religious  principle.  Some  men  live 
in  a  spirit  of  prayer,  who  are  scarcely  able  to  fix  them- 
selves steadily  to  the  solemn  act  of  prayer.— Our  char- 
acters are  so  much  our  own,  that  if  a  man  were  to  come 
into  my  family  in  order  to  form  himself  on  my  model, 
and  to  imitate  me  for  a  month,  it  might  seriously  injure 
him.  I  have  a  favorite  walk  of  twenty  steps  in  my 
study  and  chamber  :  that  walk  is  my  oratory  :  but,  if 
another  man  were  obliged  to  walk  as  he  prayed,  it  is 
very  probable  he  could  not  pray  at  all. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


187 


In  defining  tlie  operation  of  religious  principle,  I  am 
afraid  of  becoming  an  Albert  Durer.  Albert  Durer 
gave  rules  for  forming  the  perfect  figui  e  of  a  man.  He 
marked  and  defined  all  the  relations  and  proportions. 
Albert  Durer's  man  became  the  model  of  perfection  in 
every  Academy  in  Europe  :  and  now  every  Academy 
in  Europe  has  abandoned  it,  because  no  such  figure 
was  e\er  found  in  nature.  I  am  afraid  of  reducing  the 
variety  which,  to  a  certain  degree,  may  be  of  God' s  own 
forming,  to  my  notion  of  perfection.  "  You  must  main- 
tain and  cultivate  a  spirit  of  devotion" — I  say  to  all : 
"  but  be  ye  judges,  as  conscientious  men,  of  the  parti- 
cular means  suited  to  your  circumstances." 

The  SPIRIT  of  devotion  should  be  our  great  aim. 
We  are,  indeed,  buried  in  sense,  and  cannot  possibly 
attain  or  improve  this  spirit,  but  by  proper  means  :  yet 
these  means  are  to  be  adapted  and  varied  to  character 
and  situation. 

"  I  MUST  walk  with  God.  In  some  way  or  other, 
whatever  be  my  character  or  profession,  I  must  acquire 
the  holy  habit  of  connecting  every  thing  that  passes  in 
my  house  and  affairs,  with  God.  If  sickness  or  heaUh 
visit  my  family,  my  eye  must  see  and  my  heart  must 
acknowledge  the  hand  of  God  therein.  Whether  my 
afiairs  move  on  smoothly  or  ruggedly,  God  must  be  ac- 
knowledged in  them.  If  1  go  out  of  my  house  or  come 
into  it,  I  must  go  out  and  come  in  as  under  the  eye  of 
God.  If  I  am  occupied  in  business  all  day  long,  I  must 
still  have  the  glory  of  God  in  my  view.  If  I  have  any 
afl'air  to  transact  with  another,  I  must  pray  that  God 
would  be  with  us  in  that  affair,  lest  we  should  blunder, 
and  injure  and  ruin  each  other." 


188 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


This  is  the  language  of  a  real  Christian.  But  instead 
of  such  a  spirit  as  this  among  the  great  body  of  trades- 
men professing  themselves  religious — what  do  we  see 
but  a  driving,  impetuous  pursuit  of  the  world  ! — and,  in 
this  pursuit,  not  seldom — mean,  low,  suspicious,  yea, 
immoral  practices  ! 

Yet  I  once  went  to  a  friend  for  the  express  purpose 
of  calling  him  out  into  the  world.  I  said  to  him — "  It 
is  your  duty  to  accept  the  loan  of  ten  thousand  pounds, 
and  to  push  yourself  forward  into  an  ampler  sphere." 
But  he  was  a  rare  character  :  and  his  case  was  rare. 
His  employers  had  said,  "  We  are  ashamed  you  should 
remain  so  long  a  servant  in  our  house,  with  the  whole 
weight  of  affairs  on  you.  We  wish  you  to  enter  as  a 
principal  with  us,  and  will  advance  you  ten  thousand 
pounds.  It  is  the  custom  of  the  city — it  is  your  due — 
we  are  dissatisfied  to  see  you  in  your  present  sphere." 
I  assured  him  that  it  appeared  to  me  to  be  his  duty  to 
accede  to  the  proposal.  But  I  did  not  prevail.  He  said 
— "Sir,  I  have  often  heard  from  you  that  it  is  no  easy 
thing  to  get  to  heaven.  I  have  often  heard  from  you 
that  it  is  no  easy  thing  to  master  the  world.  I  have  ev- 
ery thing  I  wish.  More  would  encumber  me — increase 
my  difiticulties — and  endanger  me." 

SoLiTTDE  shows  us  what  we  should  be  :  Society 
shows  us  what  we  are.  Yet,  in  the  theory,  solitude 
shows  us  our  true  character  better  than  society.  A  man 
in  his  closet  will  find  nature  putting  herself  forth  in  act- 
ings, which  the  presence  of  others  would  restrain  him 
from  bringing  into  real  effect.  She  schemes  and  she 
wishes,  here,  without  reserve.    She  is  pure  nature.  An 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


189 


enlightened  and  vigilant  self-observer  is  surprised  and 
alarmed.  He  puis  himself  on  his  guard.  He  goes 
forth  armed  into  the  v\orld.  But  society  shows  him  that 
nature  is  practically  evil.  The  circumstances  of  the 
day  as  they  arise  carry  him  away.  If  he  could  ab- 
stract liimself,  and  follow  the  actings  of  his  own  mind 
with  an  impartial  eye,  lie  could  not  believe  himself  to 
be  the  man  who  had  entered  into  the  world  with  such 
holy  resolutions. 

Recollection  is  the  life  of  religion.  Tlie  Ciiristian 
wants  to  know  no  new  thing,  but  to  have  his  heart  el- 
evated more  above  the  world  by  secluding  himself  from 
it  as  much  as  his  duties  will  allow,  that  religion  may 
effect  this  its  great  end  by  bringing  its  sublime  hopes 
and  prospects  into  more  steady  action  on  the  mind. 

I  KNOW  not  how  it  is,  that  some  Christians  can  make 
so  little  of  recollection  and  retirement.  I  find  the  spirit 
of  the  world  a  strong  assimilating  principle.  I  find  it 
liurrying  my  mind  away  in  its  vortex,  and  sinking  me 
among  the  dregs  and  filth  of  carnal  nature.  Even  my 
ministerial  employments  would  degenerate  into  a  mere 
following  of  my  trade  and  crjing  of  my  wares.  I  am 
obliged  to  withdraw  myself  regularly,  and  to  say  to  my 
heart,  "  What  are  you  doing  ? — Where  are  you  V" 

ON  A  SPIRITUAL  MIND. 

Dr.  Owen  says,  if  a  man  of  a  carnal  mind  is  brought 
into  a  large  company,  he  will  have  much  to  do  :  if  into 
a  company  of  Christians,  he  will  feel  little  interest :  if  in- 


190 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


to  a  smaller  company  engaged  in  religious  exercises,  he 
will  feel  still  less  :  but  if  taken  into  a  closet  and  forced 
to  meditate  on  God  and  eternity,  this  will  be  insupport- 
able ! 

The  spiritual  man  is  born,  as  it  were,  into  a  new 
world.  He  has  a  new  taste.  He  savors  the  things 
of  the  Spirit.  He  turns  to  God,  as  the  needle  to  the 
pole. 

This  is  a  subject  of  which  many  can  understand  but 
little.  They  want  spiritual  taste.  Nay,  they  account 
it  enthusiasm.  Bishop  Horseley  will  go  all  the  way 
Avith  Christians  into  theii-  principles  :  but  he  thinks  the 
feelings  and  desires  of  a  spiritual  mind  enthusiastical. 

There  are  various  CHARACTERISTICS  of  a 
spiritual  mind. 

Self  Loathing  is  a  characteristic  of  such  a  mind. 
The  axe  is  laid  to  the  root  of  a  vain-glorious  spirit. 

It  maintains,  too,  a  walk  and  converse  with  God. 
Enoch  walked  v;ith  God.  There  is  a  transaction  be- 
tween God  and  the  spiritual  mind :  if  the  man  feels 
dead  and  heartless,  that  is  matter  of  complaint  to  God. 
He  looks  to  God  for  wisdom  for  the  day — for  the  hour 
— for  the  business  in  hand. 

A  spiritual  mind  refers  its  affairs  to  God  !  "  Let 
God's  will  be  obeyed  by  me  in  this  affair.  His  way 
may  differ  from  that  which  I  should  choose  !  but  let  it 
be  so  :  Surely,  I  have  behaved  and  quieted  myself  as 
a  child  that  is  weaned  of  his  mother :  my  soul  is 
even  as  a  weaned  child." 

A  spiritual  mind  has  somelliing  of  the  nature  of  the 
sensitive  plant.  "  I  shall  smart  if  I  touch  this  or  that  " 
There  is  a  lioly  shrinking  away  from  evil. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  191 

A  spiritual  mind  enjoys,  at  times,  the  influx  of  a 
HOLY  JOY  AND  SATISFACTION,  wliich  surpi  iscs  evcn  itself 
When  bereaved  of  creature  comforts,  it  can  sometimes 
find  such  a  repose  in  Christ  and  his  promises,  that  the 
man  can  say,  «  Well !  it  is  enough  :  let  God  take  from 
me  what  else  he  pleases  !" 

A  spiritual  mind  is  a  mortified  mind.  The  church 
of  Rome  talks  much  of  mortification,  but  her  mortifica- 
tion is  not  radical  and  spiritual.  Simon  Stylites  will 
willingly  mortify  himself  on  his  pillar,  if  he  can  bring 
people  around  Jiim  to  pray  to  him,  to  pray  for  tliem! 
But  the  spiritual  mind  must  mortify  itself  in  whatever 
would  retard  its  ascent  toward  heaven  ;  it  must  rise  on 
the  wings  of  faith,  and  hope,  and  love. 

A  spiritual  mind  is  an  ingenuous  mind.  There  is  a 
sort  of  hypocrisy  in  us  all.  We  are  not  quite  stripped 
oi  all  disguise.  One  man  wraps  round  him  a  covering 
oi  one  kind,  and  another  of  another.  They,  who  think 
they  do  not  this,  yet  do  it  though  they  know  it  not. 

Vet  this  spiytual  mind  is  a  sublime  mind.  It  has  a 
vast  and  extended  view.  It  has  seen  the  glory  and 
beauty  of  Christ  and  cannot  therefore  admire  the  cjoodly 
iniUlings  of  the  temple  :  as  Christ,  says  Fenelon,  had 
seen  his  Father's  house,  and  could  not  therefore  be 
taken  with  the  glory  of  the  earthly  structure  ! 

I  would  urge  young  persons,  when  they  are  staggered 
by  the  conversation  of  people  of  the  world,  to  dwell  on 
file  characteristics  of  a  spiritual  mind.  "  If  you  cannot 
answer  their  arguments,  yet  mark  their  spirit :  and 
mark  what  a  contrary  spirit  that  is  which  you  are  call- 
ed to  cultivate." 

There  are  vanous  MEANS  of  maintaining  and  pro- 


192 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


moting  a  spiritual  mind.  Beware  of  saying  concern- 
ing this  or  that  evil.  Is  it  fiot  a  little  one  ?  Much  de- 
pends on  mortifying  the  body.  There  are  silent 
marches  which  the  flesh  will  steal  on  us: — the  temper 
is  too  apt  to  rise  :  the  tongue  will  let  itself  loose  :  the 
imagination,  if  liberty  is  given  to  it,  will  hurry  U5  away. 
Vain  company  will  injure  the  mind:  carnal  professors 
of  religion  especially  will  lower  its  tone  :  we  catch  a 
contagion  from  sucli  men.  Misemployment  of  time  is 
injurious  to  the  mind  :  when  reflecting,  in  illness,  on  my 
past  years,  T  have  looked  back  with  self  reproach  on 
days  spent  in  my  study  :  I  was  wading  through  history, 
and  poetry,  and  monthly  journals ;  but  I  ^\  as  in  my 
study  !  Another  man's  trifling  is  notorious  to  all  observ- 
ers :  but  what  am  I  doing  ? — Nothing,  perhaps,  that 
has  a  reference  to  the  spiiitual  good  of  my  congrega- 
tion !  I  do  not  speak  against  a  chastised  attention  to 
literature,  but  the  abuse  of  it.  Avoid  all  idleness  :  e.r- 
ercise  thyself  unto  godliness ;  plan  for  God.  Be- 
ware of  temptation  :  the  mind,  which  has  dwelt  on  sin- 
ful objects,  \\  '\\\  be  in  darkness  for  days.  Associate 
M  ith  spiritually-minded  men  :  the  very  sight  of  a  good 
man,  though  he  says  nothing,  will  refresh  the  soul.  Con- 
template Christ:  be  nmch  in  retirement  and  prayer : 
study  the  honor  and  glory  of  your  IMaster. 

ON  DECLENSION  IN  UELIGION. 

A  Christian  may  decline  far  in  religion,  without  be- 
ing suspected.  He  may  maintain  appearances.  Every 
thing  seems  to  others  to  go  on  well.  He  suspects  liim- 
self ;  for  it  requires  great  labor  to  maintain  appear- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


193 


ances :  especially  in  a  minister.  Discerning  hearers 
will,  however,  often  detect  such  declensions.  He  talks 
ov  er  his  old  matters.  He  says  his  things,  but  in  a  cold 
and  unfeeling  manner.  He  is  sound,  indeed,  in  doc- 
trine ;  perhaps  more  sound  than  before  ;  for  there  is  a 
great  tendency  to  soundness  of  doctrine,  when  appear- 
ances are  to  be  kept  up  in  a  declining  state  of  the  heart. 

'Where  a  man  has  real  grace,  it  may  be  part  of  a 
dispensation  toward  him  that  he  is  suffered  to  decline. 
He  walked  carelessly.  He  was  left  to  decline,  that  he 
might  be  brought  to  feel  his  need  of  vigilance.  If  he  is 
indulging  a  besetting  sin,  it  may  please  God  to  expose 
him,  especially  if  he  is  a  high  spirited  man,  that  he  may 
liang  down  his  head  as  long  as  he  lives.  He  acted  thus 
toward  David  and  Hezekiah.  But  this  is  pidling  down 
in  order  to  build  up  again. 

The  CAUSES  of  a  decline  in  religion  should  be 
remarked. 

The  world  has  always  nmch  to  do  in  religious  declen- 
sion. A  minister  is  tempted,  perhaps,  to  sacrifice  ev- 
ery thing  to  a  name.  If  any  appetite  is  suffered  to 
prevail,  it  will  stupify  the  mind  :  religion  is  an  abstract 
and  elevated  aff  air :  The  way  of  life  above  is  to  the 
wise,  to  depart  Jrom  hell  beneath.   Keeping  on  good 

TERMS  WITH  THOSE  WHO  RESPECT  US,  is  a  SUarC.  A  SPE- 
CULATIVE TURN  OF  MIND  is  a  snarc  :  it  leads  to  that  evil 
heart  of  unbelief,  which  departs  from  the  living 
God.  Vain  confidence  thinks  himself  in  no  danger  : 
he  knows  the  truth :  he  can  dispute  for  the  truth  : 
"  What  should  we  fear  ?"  Why,  that  we  have  no  fear. 
Trifling  with  conscience  is  a  snare  :  no  man  in- 
dulges himself  in  any  thing  which  his  conscience  tells 


194  REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL,  ^ 

liim  ought  not  to  be  clone,  but  it  will  at  length  wear 
away  his  spirituality  of  mind. 

The  SYMPTOMS  of  a  religious  decline  are  many  : 
When  a  minister  begins  to  depart  from  God,  and  to 
lose  a  spiritual  mind,  he  becomes  fond  sometimes  of 
GENTEEL  COMPANY,  who  Can  entertain  him,  and  who 
know  how  to  respect  his  character  !  This  genteel  spirit 
is  suspicious  :  it  is  associated  vvith^piljfie  and  delicacy, 
and  a  love  of  ease  :  in  short  it  is  the  spirit  of  the  world. 
It  is  the  reverse  of  condescending  to  mean  things  :  it  is 
Uie  reverse  of  the  spirit  of  our  Master. 

It  is  a  symptom  of  decline,  when  a  man  will  xjnne- 

CESSARILY  EXPOSE  THE  IMPERFECTIONS  OF  THE  RELIGIOUS 

WORLD.  "  Such  a  man,"  he  will  say,  "  is  fond  of  pray- 
ing ;  but  he  is  fond  of  money."  This  is  the  very  op- 
posite spirit  to  that  of  St.  Paul,  who  speaks  even  weejj- 
ing  of  those  who  mind  earthly  things. 

A  VIOLENT  sectarian  SPIRIT  is  a  sign  of  religious  de- 
clension. Honest  men  stand  firm  for  the  vitals  of  reli- 
gion. If  the  mind  were  right,  the  circumstantials  of 
religion  would  not  be  made  matters  of  fierce  contention. 
The  spirit  of  St.  Paul  was  of  another  kind.  If  meat 
make  my  brother  to  offend,  I  will  eat  no  meat  while 
the  world  standeth,  lest  I  make  my  brother  to  off  end 
— One  believeth  that  he  may  eat  all  things  :  another, 
who  is  weak,  eateth  herbs.  Let  not  hitn,  that  eat- 
eth,  despise  him  that  eateth  not  ;  and  let  not  him, 
which  eateth  not,  judge  him  that  eateth. 

Aversion  from  reproof  marks  a  state  of  religious 
decline.  The  man  cannot  bear  to  have  his  state  de- 
picted, even  in  the  pulpit.    He  calls  the  preaciang. 


HKMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


195 


y.\h\ch  searches  and  detects  liiin,  Armir.ian  and  legal. 
Hast  t/io'/  fonnd  me,  0  mhie  enemy  ?  Why  should 
lie  quarrel  with  tiie  truth  ?  If  that  truth  is  delivered  in 
its  just  proportions,  his  quarrel  is  with  God  ! 

Stupidity  under  chastisement  proves  a  man  to  be 
under  declension.  He  is  not  disposed  to  ask.  Where- 
fore clout  thou  contend  with  me  ?  He  is  kicking 
against  the  pricks.  He  is  stricken,  but  has  not 
grieved.  He  is  chastised,  as  a  bullock  unaccustom- 
ed to  the  yoke. 

Such  a  man,  too,  has  often  a  high  mind.  He  is  un- 
humbled — boasting — stout-hearted.  He  is  ready  to 
censure  every  one  but  himself. 

Unnecessary  occupation  is  another  evidence  of  de- 
clension. Some  men  are  unavoidably  much  engaged 
in  the  world :  To  such  men  God  will  give  especial 
grace,  if  they  seek  it ;  and  they  shall  maintain  a  spirit 
of  devotion  even  in  the  bustle  and  occupation  of  their 
affairs.  But  some  men  will  be  rich,  and  therefore  yii// 
into  temptation  and  a  snare  ;  they  will  have  shops  in 
dirt'erent  parts  of  the  town  :  they  say  they  do  not  feel 
tliis  all'ect  their  religious  state  ;  but  I  cannot  believe 
them  :  a  man  is  declined  from  God  before  he  enters  on 
such  schemes  :  a  spiritual  and  devout  man  will  gener- 
ally find  the  business  in  which  he  is  already  engaged  a 
sutKcient  snare. 

In  short,  the  symptoms  may  be  this  or  that,  but  the 
disease  is  a  dead  palsy.  Ephraim  ! — he  hath  mixed 
himself  among  the  people  :  Ephraim  is  a  cake  not 
turned.  Strangers  have  devoured  his  strength,  and 
he  knoweth  it  not :  yea,  gray  hairs  are  here  ancf 
there  upon  him,  yet  he  knoweth  it  not, 


196 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


ON  A  christian's  ASSOCIATING  AVITH  IRRELIG lOUS  PER- 
SONS FOR  THEIR  GOOD. 

Christ  is  an  example  to  us  of  entering  into  mixed 
society.  But  our  imitation  of  him  herein  must  admit  of 
restrictions.  A  feeble  man  must  avoid  danger.  If  any 
one  could  go  into  society  as  Christ  did,  then  let  him 
go :  let  him  attend  marriage-feasts  and  Pharisees' 
houses. 

Much  depends  on  a  Christian's  observing  his  call — 
the  openings  which  Providence  may  make  before  him. 
It  is  not  enough  to  say  that  he  frequents  public  com- 
pany in  order  to  retard  the  progress  of  evil. 

But,  when  in  company  of  people  of  the  world,  we 
should  treat  them  kindly  and  tenderly — witli  feeling 
and  compassion.  They  should  be  assisted,  if  they  are 
incUned  to  receive  assistance.  But  if  a  Christian  falls 
into  the  society  of  a  mere  worldlmg,  it  must  be  like 
the  meeting  of  two  persons  in  a  rain — they  will  part  as 
soon  as  possible.  If  a  man  loves  such  company,  it  is 
an  evil  symptom. 

It  is  a  Christian's  duty  to  maintain  a  kind  intercourse, 
if  practicable,  with  liis  relatives.  And  he  must  duly 
APPRECIATE  THEIR  STATE  :  if  not  religious,  they  cannot 
see  and  feel  and  taste  his  enjoyments  :  they  accommo- 
date themselves  to  him,  and  he  accommodates  himself 
to  them.  It  is  much  a  matter  of  accommodation  on 
both  sides. 

Avoid  disgusting  such  friends  unnecessarily. 
A  precise  man,  for  instance,  must  be  humored.  Your 
friends  set  down  your  religion,  perhaps,  as  a  case  of 
humor. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


197 


Cultivate  good  sense.  If  your  friends  perceive 
you  weak  in  any  part  of  your  views  and  conduct,  they 
will  tliink  you  weak  in  your  religion. 

Avoid  vain  jangling.  Tiiere  is  a  disposition  iu 
such  friends  to  avoid  important  and  pinching  truth.  If 
you  WILL  converse  with  them  on  the  subject  of  religion, 
they  will  often  endeavor  to  draw  you  on.  to  such  points 
as  predestination.  They  will  ask  you  what  you  think 
of  the  salvation  of  infants  and  of  the  heathen.  All  this 
is  meant  to  throw  out  the  great  question. 

Seize  favorable  occasions — not  only  the  "  moll'ta 
tempora  fa)idi  y"  but  when  public  characters  and  pub- 
lic events  furnish  occasions  of  profitable  retlec(ion. 
Bring  before  your  friends  the  extreme  childishness 
OF  A  siNFL'L  STATE.  Trcat  woildly  amusements  as  pue- 
rile things.  People  of  the  world  are  sick  at  heart  of 
their  very  pleasures 


ON  THE  CHRISTIAN  SABBATH. 

It  belongs  to  our  very  relation  to  God,  to  set  apart 
a  portion  of  our  time  for  his  service:  but,  as  it  might 
have  been  difficult  for  conscience  to  determine  what 
that  portion  should  be,  God  has  prescribed  it :  and  tlie 
ground  of  the  observance  remains  the  same,  whether 
the  remembrance  of  God's  resting  from  his  work,  or 
any  other  reason,  be  assigned  as  the  more  immediate 
cause. 

The  Jewish  Sabbath  was  partly  of  political  institu- 
tion, and  partly  of  moral  obligation.  So  far  as  it  was 
a  political  appointment,  designed  to  preserve  the  Jews 
distinct  from  other  nations,  it  is  abrogated  :  so  far  as  it 
was  of  moral  obligation,  it  remains  in  force. 

R  2 


198 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


Our  Lord  evidently  designed  to  relax  the  strictness 
of  the  observance.  Christianity  is  not  a  hedge  placed 
round  a  peculiar  people.  A  slave  might  enter  into  the 
spirit  of  Christianity,  though  obliged  to  work  as  a  slave 
on  the  sabbath :  he  might  be  in  the  Spirit  on  the 
Lord's  day,  though  in  the  mines  of  Patmos. 

Difficulties  often  arise  in  respect  to  the  observance  of 
the  Sabbath.  I  tell  conscientious  persons,  "  If  you 
have  the  spirit  of  Christianity,  and  are  in  an  employ- 
ment contrary  to  Christianity,  you  will  labor  to  escape 
from  it,  and  God  will  open  your  way."  If  such  a  man's 
heart  be  right,  he  will  not  throw  himself  out  of  his  em- 
ployment the  first  day  he  suspects  himself  to  be  wrong, 
but  he  will  pray  and  wait  till  his  way  shall  be  opened 
before  him. 

Christ  came  not  to  abolish  the  Sabbath,  but  to  explain 
and  enforce  it,  as  he  did  the  rest  of  the  law.  Its  ob- 
servance was  no  where  positively  enjoined  by  him,  be- 
cause Cliristianity  was  to  be  practicable,  and  was  to  go 
into  all  nations  :  and  it  goes  thither  stripped  of  its  pre- 
cise and  various  circumstances.  I  was  in  the  spirit 
on  the  Lord's  day,  seems  to  be  the  soul  of  the  Ciiristi- 
an  Sabbath. 

In  this  view  of  the  day,  a  thousand  frivolous  questions 
concerning  its  observance  would  be  answered.  "  A^'liat 
can  I  do  ?"  says  one  :  I  answer,  "  Do  what  true  serv- 
ants of  God  will  do.  Bend  not  to  what  is  -.^Tong.  Be 
in  the  spirit.    God  will  help  you." 

In  short,  we  are  going  to  spend  a  Sabbath  in  eternity. 
The  Christian  will  acquire  as  much  of  the  Sabbath  spirit 
as  he  can.  And  in  proportion  to  a  man's  real  piety  in 
every  age  of  the  church,  he  will  be  found  to  have  been 
a  diligent  observer  of  the  Sabbath  day. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


199 


ON  JUDGING  JUSTLY. 

A  PERFi  CTLY  just  and  sound  mind  is  a  rare  and  in- 
valuable (yift.  But  it  is  still  much  more  unusual  to  see 
such  a  mind  unbiassed  in  all  its  actings.  God  has  given 
this  soundness  of  mind  but  to  few  ;  and  a  very  small 
number  of  those  few  escape  the  bias  of  some  predilec- 
tion, perhap.s  habitually  operating  ;  and  none  are  at  all 
times  and  perfectly  free.  I  once  saw  this  subject  forci- 
bly illustrated.  A  watchmaker  told  me  that  a  gentle- 
man liad  put  an  exquisite  watch  into  his  hands,  that 
went  irregularly.  It  was  as  perfect  a  piece  of  work  as 
w  as  ever  made.  He  took  it  to  pieces  and  put  it  togeth- 
er again  twenty  times.  No  manner  of  defect  was  to  be 
discovered,  and  yet  the  Avatch  went  intolerably.  At 
last  it  struck  him,  that,  possibly,  the  balance-wheel 
might  have  been  near  a  magnet.  On  applying  a  needle 
to  it,  he  found  his  suspicions  true.  Here  was  all  the 
mischief.  The  steel  work  in  the  other  parts  of  the 
watch  had  a  perpetual  influence  on  its  motions  ;  and 
the  watch  went  as  well  as  possible  with  a  new  wheel. 
If  the  soundest  mind  be  magnetized  by  any  predilec- 
tion, it  must  act  irregularly. 

Prejudice  is  often  the  result  of  such  strong  associa- 
tions, that  it  acts  involuntarily,  in  spite  of  conviction 
and  resolution.  The  first  step  toward  its  eradication, 
is  the  persevering  habit  of  presenting  it  to  the  mind  in 
its  true  colors. 

If  a  man  will  look  at  most  of  his  prejudices,  he  will 
find  that  they  arise  from  his  field  of  view  being  neces- 


200 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


sarily  narrow  like  the  eye  of  the  fly.  He  can  have  bat 
little  better  nolions  of  the  whole  scheme  of  things,  as 
has  been  well  said,  than  a  fly  on  the  pavement  of  St. 
Paul's  cathedral  can  have  of  the  whole  structure.  He 
is  offended,  therefore,  by  inequalities  which  are  lost  in 
the  grand  design.  This  persuasion  will  fortify  him 
against  many  injurious  and  troublesome  prejudices. 

Just  judgment  depends  on  the  simplicity  and  the 
strength  of  the  mind.  The  eye  which  conveys  a  per- 
fect idea  of  the  scene  to  the  mind,  must  be  unclouded 
and  strong.  If  the  mental  eye  be  not  single,  the  judg- 
ment will  be  warped  by  some  little,  mean  and  selfish  in- 
terests ;  and,  if  it  be  not  capable  of  a  wide  and  distant 
range,  the  decision  will  be  partial  and  imperfect.  For 
example  :  a  man,  with  either  of  these  failings,  will  be 
likely  to  bhnd  his  eyes  from  the  conviction,  that  would 
dart  on  him,  when  he  places  a  son  or  a  friend  in  any 
sphere  of  influence,  because  he  is  his  son  or  his  friend  ; 
when  a  single  or  a  strong  eye  would  show  him  that  the 
interests  of  religion  and  truth  required  him  to  prefer 
some  other  person.  The  mind  must  be  raised  above 
the  petty  interests  and  aff'airs  of  life,  and  pursue  su- 
premely the  glory  of  God  and  the  church. 

Some  minds  are  so  diseased,  that  they  can  see  an  af- 
fair only  in  that  light,  in  which  passion  or  predilection 
first  presented  it,  or  as  it  appears  on  the  siu-face.  The 
essence,  the  truth  of  the  thing,  which  must  give  char- 
acter to  the  whole,  and  on  which  all  just  decision  must 
depend,  may  lie  beneath  the  surface,  and  may  be  a  nice 
afl'air.    But  such  minds  cannot  enter  into  it.    It  is  as 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


201 


though  I  sliould  try  to  convince  such  pei'sons — allowing 
nie  tliat  the  pineal  gland  is  the  seat  of  the  soul — that, 
however  fair  and  perfect  the  form,  the  man  wanted  the 
essence  of  his  being,  in  wanting  that  apparently  insig- 
nificant part  of  his  body.  Such  men  would  say,  "  here 
is  a  striking  and  perfect  form — all  parts  are  harmonious 
— life  animates  the  frame — the  machine  plays  admirably 
— what  lias  this  little  insignificant  member  to  do  with 
it?"  And  yet  this  is  tiie  essential  and  characterizing 
part  of  tlie  man. 


Every  man  has  a  peculiar  turn  of  mind,  which  gives 
a  coloring  and  tinge  to  his  thoughts.  I  have  particular- 
ly detected  this  in  myself  with  respect  to  public  af- 
fairs. I  liave  sucli  an  immediate  view  of  God  acting 
in  them,  that  all  the  great  men,  who  make  such  a  noise 
and  bustle  on  the  scene,  seem  to  me  like  so  many 
mere  puppets.  God  is  moving  them  all,  to  effect  his 
own  designs.  They  cannot  advance  a  step,  whither  he 
does  not  lead  :  nor  stand  a  moment  where  he  does  not 
place  them.  Now  this  is  a  view  of  tilings,  whicli  it  is 
my  privilege  to  take  as  a  Christian.  But  the  evil  lies 
liere.  1  dwell  so  much  on  the  view  of  the  matter,  to 
which  the  turn  of  my  mind  leads  me,  that  I  forget 
sometimes  the  natural  tendencies  of  things.  God  uses 
all  tilings,  but  not  so  as  to  destroy  their  natural  tenden- 
cies. They  are  good  or  evil,  according  to  their  own  na- 
ture ;   not  according  to  tlie  use  wliich  he  makes  of  them. 

The  mind  has  a  constant  tendency  to  conform  itself 
to  the  sentiments  and  cast  of  thinking  with  which  it  is 
chiefly  conversant,  either  among  books  or  men.    If  the 


202 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


influence  remain  undetected,  it  grows  soon  into  an  in- 
veterate habit  of  obliquity.  Even  if  it  be  detected,  it 
is  the  mcst  difScult  thing  in  the  world  to  bring  back 
the  mind  to  the  standard,  especially  if  there  be  any  thing 
in  its  constitution  which  assimilates  itself  to  the  error. 
I  was  once  much  in  the  habit  of  reading  the  mystical 
writers:  a  book  of  Dr.  Owen's  clearly  convinced  me 
that  they  erred  :  yet  I  found  ray  mind  ever  inclining  to- 
ward them,  and  winding  round  like  the  biassed  bowl. 
I  saw  clearly  the  absurdity  of  the  notions  in  their  view 
of  them,  and  yet  T  was  ever  talking  of  "  self-annihila- 
tion," &c.,  and  am  not  even  now  rid  of  the  thing. 

ON  THE  CHARACTER  OF  ST.  PALL. 

I  DELIGHT  to  contemplate  St.  Paul  as  an  appointed 
pattern.  Men  might  have  questioned  the  propriety  of 
urging  on  them  the  example  of  Christ — they  might  have 
said  that  we  are  necessarily  in  dissimilar  ci'-cumstances. 
But  St.  Paul  stands  up  in  like  case  with  ourselves — a 
model  of  ministerial  virtues. 

We  consider  him,  perhaps,  in  point  of  character  more 
the  immediate  subject  of  extraordinary  inspiration,  than 
he  was  in  reality.  And  this  mistake  affects  om-  view  of 
him  in  two  different  ways. 

We  suppose,  at  one  time,  that  his  virtues  were  so 
much  the  effect  of  extraordinary  communications,  that 
he  is  no  proper  model  for  us  :  whereas  he  was  no  farth- 
er fitted  to  his  circumstances  than  every  Christian  has 
warrant  to  expect  to  be,  so  far  as  his  circumstances  are 
similar. 

At  another  time,  perhaps,  though  we  acknowledge 


REMAINS  OF  MU.  CKCIL. 


203 


mid  te\ti liis  disliiiguislied  character,  yet  our  view  of 
liis  virtues  is  exalted  beyond  due  measure.  We  should 
remember,  that,  as  he  was  fitted  for  his  circumstances  ; 
so  he  was,  in  a  great  degree,  made  by  them.  Many 
men  are,  doubtless,  executing  their  appointed  task  in 
retirement  and  silence,  who  would  unfold  a  character 
beyond  all  expectation,  if  Providence  were  to  lead  them 
into  a  scene  where  the  world  rose  up  in  arms,  and  they 
were  sent  forth  into  it  under  a  clear  conviction  of  an  es- 
pecial mission.  The  history  of  the  church  seems  to 
show  us  that  the  etlects  of  grace,  ordinary  or  extraordi- 
nary, have  been  the  same  in  all  ages. 

In  speaking  of  St.  Paul,  it  has  been  usual  to  magnify 
his  learning,  among  the  many  other  great  qualities  which 
he  possessed.  That  point  seems  never  to  have  been  sa- 
tisfactorily made  out.  He  was  an  educated  Pharisee  ; 
but,  farther  than  this,  I  think  we  cannot  go.  His  quo- 
tations from  the  Greek  Poets,  are  not  evidences  of  even 
a  school  boy's  learning  in  our  day  :  for  we  forget,  when 
we  talk  of  them,  that  he  was  a  Roman  quoting  Greek. 
Nor  do  I  see  any  thing  more  in  his  famous  speech  in 
tiie  Areopagus,  so  often  produced  as  evidence  on  this 
subject,  than  the  line  of  argument  to  which  a  strong 
and  energetic  mind  would  lead  him.  If  we  talk  of  his 
talents,  indeed,  he  rises  almost  beyond  admiration  :  but 
they  were  talents  of  a  certain  order  ;  and  the  very  dis- 
play which  we  have  of  them  seems  a  strong  corrobor- 
ative proof,  that  he  is  not  to  be  considered  as  a  pro- 
foundly learned  man  of  his  day.  For  instance,  had  he 
studied  Aristotle,  it  would  have  been  almost  impossible 
but  he  must  have  caught  some  influence,  which  we 


204 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


should  have  seen  in  his  writings.  But  there  is  notliing 
like  the  dry,  logical,  metaphysical  character  of  that 
school :  which  yet  had  then  given  the  law  to  the  seats 
of  science  and  philosophy.  Instead  of  this,  we  see 
every  where  the  copious,  diffusive,  declaiming,  discurs- 
ive ;  but  sublime,  and  wise,  and  effective  mind. 

There  is  a  true  apostolicism  in  the  character  of  St. 
Paul.    It  is  a  combination  of  zeal  and  lote. 

The  zeal  of  some  men  is  of  a  haughty,  unbending,  fe- 
rocious character.  They  have  the  letter  of  truth,  but 
they  mount  the  pulpit  like  prize-fighters.  It  is  with 
them  a  perpetual  scold.  This  spirit  is  a  reproacli  to  the 
gospel.  It  is  not  the  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  seems 
to  have  labored  to  win  men. 

But  there  is  an  opposite  extreme.  The  love  of  some 
men  is  all  milk  and  mildness  !  There  is  so  much  deli- 
cacy, and  so  much  fastidiousness  !  Tliey  touch  with 
so  much  tenderness  ! — and  if  the  patient  shrinks  they 
will  touch  no  more  1  The  times  are  too  flagrant  for  such 
a  disposition.  The  Gospel  is  sometimes  preached  in  this 
•way,  till  all  the  people  agree  with  the  preacher.  He 
gives  no  offence,  and  he  does  no  good  ! 

But  St.  Paul  united  and  blended  love  and  zeal.  He 
must  win  souls  :  but  he  will  labor  to  do  this  by  all  pos- 
sible lawful  contrivances.  I  am  made  all  things  to 
all  men,  that  I  might  by  all  means  save  some.  Zeal, 
alone,  may  degenerate  into  ferociousness  and  brutality  ; 
and  love,  alone,  into  fastidiousness  and  delicacy  :  but 
the  apostle  combined  both  qualities  :  and,  more  per- 
fectly than  other  men,  realized  the  union  of  {\\t  fortiter 
in  re  with  the  suaviter  in  modo. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


205 


MISCELLANIES. 
The  Moravians  seem  to  have  very  nearly  hit  oti 
Christianity.  They  appear  to  have  found  out  what  sort 
of  a  thing  it  is — its  quietness — meekness — patience — 
spirituality — heavenliness — and  order.  But  they  want 
fire.  A  very  superior  woman  among  them  once  said  to 
me — that  there  wanted  another  body,  the  character  of 
which  should  be  combined  from  the  Moravians  and 
the  Methodists.  The  Moravians  have  failed  in  making 
too  little  of  preaching  ;  as  the  Methodists  have  done,  in 
making  too  much  of  it. 

The  grandest  operations,  both  in  nature  and  in 
grace,  are  the  most  silent  and  imperceptible.  The 
shallow  brook  babbles  in  its  passage,  and  is  heard  by 
every  one :  but  the  coming  on  of  the  seasons  is  silent 
and  unseen.  The  storm  rages  and  alarms  ;  but  its  fury 
is  soon  exhausted,  and  its  etiects  are  partial  and  soon 
remedied :  but  the  dew,  though  gentle  and  unheard,  is 
immense  in  quantity,  and  the  very  Ufe  of  large  por- 
tions of  the  earth.  And  these  are  pictures  of  the  ope- 
rations of  grace,  in  the  church  and  in  the  soul. 

Atheism  is  a  characteristic  of  our  duty.  On  the  sen- 
timents, manners,  pursuits,  amusements,  and  dealings 
of  the  great  body  of  mankind,  there  is  written  in  broad 
characters — without  God  in  the  world  ! 

T  HAVE  often  had  occasion  to  observe,  that  a  warm 
blundering  man  does  more  for  the  world  than  a  frigid 
wise  man.    A  man,  who  gets  into  a  habit  of  inquiring 


206 


REMAINS  OF  Mr.  CECIL. 


about  proprieties  an  J  Mpediencies  and  occasions,  of  ten 
spends  his  life  witliouSfeloing  any  tiling  to  purpose.  The 
state  of  the  world  is  such,  and  so  much  depends  on  ac- 
tion, that  every  thing  seems  to  say  loudly  to  every  man, 
"  Do  something  " — "  do  it  " — "  do  it." 

Providence  is  a  greater  mystery  than  religion.  The 
slate  of  the  world  is  more  humiliating  to  our  reason, 
than  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  A  reflecting  Chris- 
tian sees  more  to  excite  his  astonishment  and  to  exercise 
his  faith  in  the  state  of  things  between  Temple  Bar  and 
St.  Paul's,  than  in  what  he  reads  from  Genesis  to  Re- 
velation. See  the  description  of  the  working  of  God's 
Providence,  in  the  account  of  the  cherubims  in  the  first 
and  tenth  chapters  of  Ezekiel. 


The  scheme  and  machinery  of  redemption  may  be 
illustrated  by  the  water-w  orks  at  Marly.  We  consider 
a  part  of  that  complicated  machinerj-,  and  we  cannot 
calculate  on  the  eifects ;  but  we  see  that  they  are  pro- 
duced. We  cannot  explain  to  a  philosopher  the  system 
of  redemption,  and  the  mode  of  conducting  and  com- 
municating its  benefits  to  the  human  soul ;  but  we  know 
that  it  yields  the  water  of  life — civiUzation,  to  a  barba- 
rian— direction  to  a  wanderer — support,  to  those  that 
are  ready  to  perish. 

It  is  manifest  that  God  designed  to  promote  inter- 
course and  commerce  among  men,  by  giving  to  each 
climate  its  appropriate  productions.  It  is  in  itself,  not 
only  innocent,  but  laudable.  All  trade,  however,  which 
is  founded  in  embellishment,  is  founded  in  depravity. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


207 


So  also  is  that  spirit  of  trade,  which  pushes  men  on  dan- 
gerous competitions.  Many  tradesmen,  professedly 
religious,  seem  to  look  on  their  trade  as  a  vast  engine, 
which  will  be  worked  to  no  good  effect,  if  it  be  not 
worked  with  the  whole  vigor  of  the  soul.  This  is  an 
intoxicating  and  ruinous  mistake.  So  far  as  they  live 
under  the  power  of  religion,  they  will  pursue  their  trade 
for  sustenance  and  provision  ;  but  not  even  that,  with 
unseasonable  attention  and  with  eagerness :  much  less 
wiU  religion  suffer  them  to  bury  themselves  in  it,  when 
ilTobjects  are  something  beyond  these  :  and,  least  of 
all,  will  it  leave  them  to  deceive  themselves  with  certain 
commercial  maxims,  so  far  removed  from  simplicity  and 
integrity  that  I  have  been  often  shocked  beyond  meas- 
ure, at  hearing  them  countenanced  and  adopted  by  some 
religious  professors. 

Every  man  should  aim  to  do  one  thing  well.  If  he 
dissipates  his  attention  on  several  objects  he  may  have 
excellent  talents  intrusted  to  him,  but  they  will  be  in- 
trusted to  no  good  end.  Concentrated  on  his  proper 
object,  they  might  have  a  vast  energy  ;  but;  '<fissipated 
on  several,  they  will  have  none.  Let  other  objects  be 
pursued,  indeed  ;  but  only  so  far  as  they  may  subserve 
(he  main  purpose.  By  neglecting  this  rule,  1  have  seen 
frivolity,  and  futility  written  on  minds  of  great  power  ; 
and,  by  regarding  it  I  have  seen  very  limited  minds 
acting  in  the  first  rank  of  their  professsion — I.  have  seen 
a  large  capital  and  a  great  stock  dissipated,  and  the 
man  reduced  to  beggary  ;  and  I  have  seen  a  small 
capital  and  stock  improved  to  great  riches. 


208 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


To  effect  any  purpose,  in  study,  the  mind  must  be 
concentrated.  If  any  other  subject  plays  on  the  fancy, 
than  that  which  ought  to  be  exclusively  before  it,  the 
mind  is  divided ;  and  both  are  neutrahzed,  so  as  to 
lose  their  effect.  Just  as  when  I  learnt  two  systems  of 
short-hand.  I  was  famiUar  with  Gurney's  method,  and 
wrote  it  with  ease  ;  but,  when  I  took  it  into  my  head 
to  learn  Byrom's,  tliey  destroyed  each  other,  and  I  could 
write  neither. 


There  should  be  something  obvious,  determinOTl, 
and  positive,  in  a  man's  reasons  for  taking  a  journey  ; 
especially  if  he  be  a  minister.  Such  events  and  conse- 
quences may  be  connected  with  it  in  every  step,  (hat 
he  ought,  in  no  case,  to  be  more  simply  dependant  on 
the  great  Appointer  of  means  and  occasions.  Several 
journies  which  1  thought  myself  called  on  to  take,  I  have 
since  had  reason  to  think  I  should  not  have  taken.  Ne- 
gative, and  even  doubtful  reasons,  may  justify  him  in 
choosing  the  safer  side  of  stajing  at  home;  but  there 
ought  to  be  something  more  in  the  reasons  which  put 
him  out  of  his  way,  to  meet  the  unknown  consequences 
of  a  voluntary  change  of  station.  Let  there  always  be  a 
"  because"  to  meet  the  "  \\\iy  ?" 

I  SOMETIMES  see,  as  I  sit  in  my  pew  at  Si.  John's 
during  the  service,  an  idle  fellow  saunter  into  the 
chapel.  He  gapes  about  him  for  a  few  minutes  ;  finds 
nothing  to  interest  and  arrest  him.;  seems  scarcely  to 
understand  what  is  going  forward  ;  and,  after  a  lounge 
or  two,  goes  out  again.  I  look  at  him,  and  think,  "  Thou 
art  a  wonderful  creature  !  a  perfect  miracle  !    What  a 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


209 


machine  is  that  body  ! — curiously, — fearfully. — won- 
derfully framed  !  An  intricate — delicate — but  harmo- 
nious and  perfect  structure  !  And^  then,  to  ascend  to 
thy  soul  ! — its  nature  ! — its  capacities  ! — its  actual 
state  ! — its  designation  ! — its  eternal  condition  !  1  am 
lost  in  amazement ! — while  he  seems  to  have  no  more 
consciousness  of  all  this  than  the  brutes  that  perish  !" 

Sin,  pursued  to  its  tendencies,  would  pull  God  from 
throne.  Though  I  have  a  deep  conviction  of  its  exceed- 
ing sinfulness,  I  live  not  a  week  without  seeing  some 
exhibition  of  its  malignity  which  draws  from  me — 
"  Well !  who  could  have  imagined  this  !"  Sin  would 
subjugate  heaven,  earth,  and  hell  to  itself.  It  would 
make  the  universe  the  minion  of  its  lusts,  and  all  beings 
bow  down  and  worship. 

It  is  one  of  the  most  awful  points  of  view  in  which 
we  can  consider  God,  that,  as  a  righteous  governor  of 
the  world,  concerned  to  vindicate  his  own  glory,  he  has 
laid  himself  under  a  kind  of  holy  necessity  to  purify  the 
unclean,  or  to  sink  him  into  perdition. 

It  is  one  of  the  curses  of  error,  that  the  man,  who  is 
the  subject  of  it,  if  he  has  had  the  opportunity  of  being 
better  informed,  cannot  possibly  do  light,  so  far  as  he  is 
under  it.  He  has  brouglit  himself  into  an  utter  inca- 
pacity of  acting  virtuously  ;  since  it  is  vicious  to  obey 
an  ill-informed  conscience,  if  that  conscience  might 
have  been  better  informed  ;  and  certainly  vicious  to 
disobey  conscience,  whether  it  be  well  or  ill  informed. 
82 


210 


REMAINS  OF  MB.  CECIL 


The  approaches  of  sin  are  like  the  conduct  of  Jael. 
It  brings  hiiller  in  a  lordly  dish.  It  bids  high  for 
the  soul.  But  when  it  has  fascinated  and  lulled  the 
victim,  the  nail  and  the  hammer  are  behind. 

I  HAVE  met  with  one  case  in  my  ministry,  very  fre- 
quent and  very  distressing.  A  man  says  to  me,  "  I  ap- 
prove all  you  say.  I  see  things  to  be  just  as  you  state 
them.  I  see  a  necessity,  a  propriety,  a  beauty  in  the 
religion  of  Christ.  I  see  it  to  be  interesting  and  import- 
ant. But  I  do  noi  feel  it.  I  cannot  feel  it.  I  have  no 
spirit  of  prayer.  ]My  heart  belies  my  head  :  its  affec- 
tions refuse  to  follow  my  convictions."  If  this  com- 
plaint be  ingenuous,  it  is  an  evidence  of  grace  ;  and  I 
say,  "  Wait  for  God,  and  he  will  appear."  But,  too 
often,  it  is  not  ingenuous :  the  heart  is  actually  indis- 
posed :  some  tyrant  holds  it  in  bondage.  The  com- 
plaint is  a  mockery — because  there  is  no  sincerity  of 
endeavor  to  obtain  the  object  of  which  it  pretends  to 
lament  the  want — tliere  is  no  sincere  desire  and  pray- 
er for  the  quickening  and  breathing  of  God's  Holy 
Spirit  on  the  torpid  soul. 

The  man  who  labors  to  jjlease  his  neighbor  for  his 
good  to  edification,  has  the  mind  that  teas  in  Christ. 
It  is  a  sinner  trying  to  help  a  sinner.  How  different 
the  face  of  things  if  this  spirit  prevailed  ! — If  Dissent- 
ers were  like  Henry,  and  Watts,  and  Doddridge  :  and 
churchmen  like  Leighton  !  The  man  who  comes  pro- 
minently forward  in  any  way  may  expect  to  be  found 
fault  with  :  one  will  call  him  harsh,  and  another  a  trim- 
mer.   A  hard  man  may  be  reverenced,  but  men  w  ill 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


211 


like  him  best  at  a  distance  :  he  is  an  iron  man  :  he  is 
not  like  Jesus  Christ :  Christ  might  have  driven  Tiiomas 
from  liis  presence  for  his  unreasonable  incredulity — but 
not  so  !  It  is  as  tliough  he  had  said,  "  I  will  come 
down  to  thy  weakness  :  if  thou  canst  not  believe  with- 
out thrusting  thy  hand  into  my  side,  then  thrust  in  tliy 
hand."  Even  a  feeble,  but  kind  and  tender  man,  will 
efi'ect  more  than  a  genius,  who  is  rough  or  artilicial. 
There  is  danger,  doubtless,  of  humoring  others,  and 
against  this  we  must  be  on  our  guard.  It  is  a  kind  and 
accommodating  spirit  at  which  we  must  aim.  When 
the  two  goats  met  on  the  bridge  which  was  too  narrow 
to  allow  them  either  to  pass  each  other,  or  to  return,  the 
goat  which  lay  down  that  the  other  might  walk  over 
him,  was  a  finer  gentleman  than  Lord  Chesterfield. 

To  expect  disease  wherever  he  goes,  and  to  lay  him- 
self out  in  the  appHcation  of  remedies,  is  that  habit  of 
mind  which  is  best  suited  to  a  Chrisnan  while  he  passes 
through  the  world,  if  he  would  be  most  efl'ectually 
useful. 

The  Papists  and  Puritans  erred  in  opposite  extremes, 
in  their  treatment  of  mankind.  The  Papists,  almost 
to  a  man,  considered  the  mass  of  men  as  mere  animals, 
and  to  be  led  by  the  senses.  Even  Fenelon  fell  into 
this  way  of  thinking.  Some  few  fine  spirits  were  to  be 
found,  which  were  capable  of  other  treatment :  but  the 
herd  they  thought  capable  of  nothing  but  seeing  and 
hearing.  The  Puritans,  on  the  contrary,  treated  man 
as  though  he  had  nothing  of  the  animal  about  him. 
There  was  among  them  a  total  excision  of  all  amuse- 


212 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECI* 


ment  and  recreation.  Every  thing  was  fffort.  Every 
thing  was  severe.  I  liave  heard  a  man  of  this  school 
preach  on  the  distinction  between  justifying  and  saving 
faith.  He  tried  to  make  his  hearers  enter  into  tliese 
niceties  ;  whereas,  failh  in  its  bold  and  leading  features, 
should  have  been  presented  to  them,  if  any  effect  was 
expected.  The  bulk  of  mankind  are  capable  of  much 
more  than  the  Papist  allows,  but  are  incapable  of  that 
which  the  Puritan  supposes.  They  should  be  treated 
in  opposition  to  both,  as  rational  and  feehng  creatures 
but  upon  a  bold  and  palpable  ground. 

I  HAVE  seen  such  sin  in  the  church,  that  I  have  been 
often  brought  by  it  to  a  sickly  state  of  mind.  But, 
when  I  have  turned  to  the  world,  I  have  seen  sin  work- 
ing there  in  such  measures  and  forms,  that  I  have  turn- 
ed back  again  to  the  church  with  more  wisdom  of  mind 
and  more  affection  to  it — taiuted  as  it  is.  I  see  sin, 
however,  no  where  put  on  such  an  odious  appearance  as 
in  the  church.  It  mixes  itself  with  the  most  holy  things, 
and  debases  them,  and  turns  them  to  its  own  purposes. 
It  builds  its  nest  in  the  very  pinnacles  of  the  temple. 
The  history  of  tlie  primitive  ages  of  the  church  has  also 
checked  the  disgust  which  would  arise  from  seeing  the 
in)pure  state  of  things  before  our  eyes.  Folly  and 
wickedness  sported  themselves  even  then  in  almost  all 
possible  forms.  I  turn,  in  such  states  of  mind,  to  two 
portraits  in  my  study — John  Bradford  and  Aph.  Leigh- 
ton.  These  never  fail,  in  surh  cases,  to  .speak  forcibly 
to  my  heart,  that,  in  the  midst  of  all,  there  is  pure  re 
ligion,  and  to  tell  me  what  that  reUgion  is. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


213 


The  joy  of  religion  is  an  exorcist  to  tlie  minJ.  It  ex- 
pels the  demons  of  carnal  mirlh  and  madness. 

The  union  of  Christians  to  Christ,  their  common 
head  ;  and,  by  means  of  the  influence  which  they  derive 
from  him,  one  to  another,  may  be  illustrated  by  the 
loadstone.  It  not  only  attracts  the  particles  of  iron  to 
itself,  by  the  magnetic  virtue ;  but  by  this  vu  tue,  it 
unites  them  one  among  another. 


Some  considerable  defect  is  always  visible,  in  the 
greatest  men,  to  a  discerning  eye.  We  idolize  the 
best  characters,  because  we  see  them  partially.  Let  us 
acknowledge  excellence,  and  ascribe  the  glory  where  it 
is  due,  while  we  honor  the  possessor  :  but  let  us  remem- 
ber that  God  has,  by  leaving  his  greatest  servants  to 
the  natural  operation  of  human  frailty  in  some  point  or 
other  of  their  character  written  on  the  face  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  Cease  ye  from  man  !  He  does,  by  per- 
fection in  character,  as  he  did  by  the  body  of  Moses — 
he  hides  it,  that  it  may  not  be  idolized.  Our  affections, 
our  prejudices,  or  our  ignorance,  cover  the  creature 
with  a  dazzling  veil :  but  he  lifts  it  up  ;  and  seems  to 
say,  "  see  the  creature  you  admire 

A  MAN,  who  thinks  himself  to  have  attained  Christian 
perfection,  in  the  sense  in  which  it  has  been  insisted  on 
by  some  persons,  either  deceives  himself,  by  calling  sin, 
infirmity — or  Satan  leaves  him  undisturbed  in  false  se- 
curity— or  the  demon  of  pride  overcomes  the  demon  of 
lust. 


214 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


The  trials  of  the  tempted  Cliiistian  are  often  sent 
for  the  use  of  others,  and  are  made  the  riches  of  all 
around  him. 

If  I  were  not  penetrated  with  a  conviction  of  thr  truth 
of  the  Bible,  and  the  reality  of  my  own  experience,  I 
should  be  confounded  on  all  sides — from  within,  and 
from  without — in  the  world,  and  in  the  church. 

If  a  good  man  cannot  prevent  evil,  lie  will  hang 
heavy  on  its  wings,  and  retard  its  progress. 

We  are  too  much  disposed  to  look  at  the  outside  of 
things.  The  face  of  every  affair  chiefly  affects  us. 
Were  God  to  draw  aside  the  veil,  and  to  shew  us  but 
a  httle  of  the  reality,  and  the  relations  of  the  most  ap- 
parently mysterious  and  complicated  dispensations,  we 
should  acquiesce  with  reverence  and  admiration.  A 
minister,  for  example,  may  be  taken  away  in  the  begin- 
ning of  a  promising  career,  or  in  the  midst  of  great  use- 
fulness. If  we  cannot  perceive  any  direct  reason  for 
this  Providence,  we  stand  amazed.  But,  if  we  could 
look  forward  into  the  farther  life  of  such  men,  we  should 
probably  see  that  they  were  taken  away  in  mercy  to 
themselves — to  the  church — or  to  the  world. 


I  HAVE  seen  too  much  of  life,  to  have  any  thing  to  do 
in  the  troubled  waters  of  my  friends,  by  way  of  giving 
advice  ;  unless  they  will  allow  me  to  remain  in  secret. 
This  especially  applies  to  some  Christians  of  more  sin- 
cerity than  prudence.  An  opinion  given  on  ditiicult  and 
controverted  cases,  in  confidence  of  its  being  used  only 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


215 


as  a  private  principle  of  action,  has  been  quoted  as  au- 
thority in  defence  of  the  conduct  founded  on  it. 

Many  kilties  are  involved  on  the  very  nature  of  reli- 
gion, concerning  which  there  is  perhaps  not  one  express 
precept  to  be  found  in  the  Scriptures.  Private,  family, 
or  public  devotions,  are  no  wiiere  enjoined,  as  to  the 
time,  or  frequency,  or  manner  of  performing  them.  Yet 
tliey  are  so  strongly  implied  in  the  very  nature  of  reli- 
gion, and  they  are  supposed  so  necessarily  to  flow  from 
the  divine  principle  of  spiritual  life  in  the  soul,  that  those 
men  greatly  err,  who  think  themselves  not  obliged  by 
their  religion  to  the  most  diligent  use  of  them  that  cir- 
cumstances will  allow.  And,  surely,  we  may  trace  here 
the  footsteps  of  divine  wisdom.  If  it  had  been  said, 
"  Thou  .shalt  do  this  or  that,  at  such  and  such  times," 
this  would  have  brouglit  a  yoke  on  the  neck  of  the  Chris- 
tian ;  and,  even  when  absolutely  unavoidable  circum- 
stances prevented  him  from  complying  with  the  injunc- 
tion, would  have  left  sin  on  his  conscience.  While  the 
way  in  which  the  duty  is  enforced  leaves  him  a  Chris- 
tian liberty  that  is  abundantly  guarded  against  all  licen- 
tiousness. He  sees  the  duty  implied  and  exemplified  in 
a  thousand  instances  throughout  the  Scripture.  The 
same  principle  is  applicable  to  certain  pursuits,  which 
occupy  the  men  of  the  world  ;  the  general  unlawfulness 
of  which  is  fully  implied,  though  they  neither  are  nor 
could  have  been  forbidden  by  name.* 

Nothing  seems  important  to  me  but  so  far  as  it  is 

♦  See  this  idea  illustrated  with  regard  to  Articles  of  Faith  in  Jones's 
"  Short  View  of  the  Argument  between  the  Church  of  England  and 
Dissenters,"  in  the  "  Scholar  Armed."    Vol.  ii.  p.  59.   J.  P. 


216 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


connected  with  morals.  The  end — the  cui  bono  ? — 
enters  into  my  view  of  every  tiling.  Even  the  highest 
acts  of  the  intellect  become  criminal  trifling,  when  they 
occupy  much  of  the  time  of  a  moral  creature,  and  es- 
pecially of  a  minister.  If  tlie  mind  cannot  feel  and 
treat  mathematics  and  music  and  every  thing  else  as  a 
trifle,  it  has  been  seduced  and  enslaved.  Brainerd,  and 
Grimshaw,  and  Fletcher,  were  men.  Most  of  us  are 
dwarfs. 

In  imitating  examples,  there  are  two  rules  to  be  re- 
garded :  we  must  not  stretch  ours  beyond  our  measure  ; 
nor  must  we  despise  that  in  another,  which  is  unsuita- 
ble to  ourselves. 


A  PIECE  has  been  written  to  prove  that  the  Gospel  is 
preached  to  sinners,  only  in  the  lowest  state  of  misery 
and  imbecility.  Some  men  get  hold  of  an  opinion,  and 
push  it  so  far  that  it  meets  and  contradicts  other  opinions, 
fairly  deducible  from  Scripture.  And  it  is  no  uncom- 
mon thing  with  them  to  suppose,  that  nobody  else  holds 
tiie  same  opinion  ;  when,  if  they  look  into  the  minds  of 
other  men,  they  would  tind  themselves  deceived.  We 
preach  the  Gospel  to  sinners  in  the  lowest  condition ; 
and  the  only  reason  I  do  not  preach  it  to  devils,  is, 
that  I  find  no  gospel  provided  for  devils.  As  to  the 
Roman  Catholic  notion  of  a  grace  of  congruity,  in  tlieir 
.sense  of  it,  I  utterly  discUiim  it.  Some  of  the  best  of 
them  tauglit  tliat  God  prepared  the  heart  for  himself  in 
various  unseen  ways.  And  who  can  deny  this  ?  but 
this  is  far  difl'erent  from  the  notion,  that  some  minds 
have  a  natural  congruity  or  suitableness  to  the  Gospel 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


217 


The  fallow-ground  of  the  heart  may  be  broken  up, 
ploughed,  and  prepared  by  unseen  and  most  circuitous 
means.  I  have  gone  from  hearing  a  man  preach  in- 
comparable nonsense  who  knew  spiritual  religion,  to 
hearing  a  man  of  a  carnal  mind  and  habits  who  knew 
nothing  of  spiritual  religion  preach  incomparable  sense, 
and  I  thought  the  carnal  preacher  much  most  likely  to 
call  men  to  some  feeling  of  religion. 

The  imagination  is  the  grand  organ,  whereby  truth 
can  make  successful  approaches  to  the  mind.  Some 
preachers  deal  much  witii  the  passions  :  they  attack 
the  hopes  and  fears  of  men.  But  this  is  a  very  differ- 
ent tiling  from  the  right  use  of  the  imagination,  as  the 
medium  of  impressing  truth.  Jesus  Christ  has  left  per- 
fect patterns  of  this  way  of  managing  men. — But  it  is  a 
distinct  talent,  and  a  talent  committed  to  very  few. 
It  is  an  easy  tiling  to  move  the  passions  :  a  rude,  blunt, 
illiterate  attack  may  do  this.  But,  to  form  one  new 
figure  for  the  conveyance  of  truth  to  the  mind,  is  a  difli- 
cult  thing.  The  world  is  under  no  small  obligation  to 
the  man  who  forms  such  a  figure.  The  French  strain 
this  point  so  far  that  the  effort  is  continually  seen.  To 
be  effective — there  must  be  about  it  a  naivete — an  ease 
— a  self-evidence.  The  figures  of  the  French  writers 
vanish  from  the  mind,  like  tlie  flourish  of  a  musical 
band.  Tiie  figures  of  Jesus  Christ  sink  into  the  mind, 
and  leave  there  the  indelible  impress  of  the  truth  which 
they  convey. 

The  religious  world  has  a  great  momentum.  Money 
and  power  in  almost  any  quantity,  are  brought  forth 

T 


218 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


into  action,  when  any  fair  object  is  set  before  it.  It  is 
a  pendulum  that  swings  with  prodigious  force.  But  it 
wants  a  regulator.  If  there  is  no  regulating  force  on 
it  of  sufficient  power,  its  motions  will  be  so  violent  and 
eccentric,  that  it  will  tear  the  machine  to  pieces.  And, 
therefore,  when  I  have  any  influence  in  its  designs  and 
schemes,  I  cannot  help  watching  them  with  extreme 
jealousy,  to  throw  in  every  directing  and  regulating 
power  wliich  can  be  obtained  from  anj"^  quarter. 

Nothing  can  be  proposed  so  wild  m  so  absurd,  as 
not  to  find  a  party — and  often  a  very  large  party — 
ready  to  espouse  it.  It  is  a  sad  reflection  on  human 
nature,  but  it  is  too  true.  Every  day's  experience  and 
history  confirm  it.  It  would  have  argued  gross  ignor- 
ance of  mankind  to  expect  even  Swedenborgianism  to 
be  rejected  at  once  by  the  common  sense  of  men.  He, 
who  laid  the  snare,  knew  that  if  a  few  characters  of 
some  learning  and  respectability  could  be  brought  to 
espouse  it,  there  would  be  soon  a  silly  multitude  ready 
to  follow. 

The  religious  world  has  many  features,  which  are 
distressing  to  a  holy  man.  He  sees  in  it  much  proposal 
and  ostentation,  covering  much  sui-face.  But  Ciiris- 
tianity  is  deep  and  substantial.  A  man  is  soon  enlisted  ; 
but  he  is  not  soon  made  a  soldier.  He  is  easily  put 
into  the  ranks,  to  make  a  show  there  ;  but  he  is  not  so 
easily  brouglit  to  do  the  duties  of  the  ranks.  We  are 
too  much  like  an  army  of  Asiatics  ;  they  count  well,  and 
cut  a  good  figure  ;  but  when  they  come  into  action,  one 
has  no  flint,  another  has  no  cartridge — the  arms  of  one 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


219 


aie  rusty,  and  anotlier  has  not  learnt  to  handle  them. 
This  was  not  the  comiilaint  equally  at  all  times.  It  be- 
longs too  peculiarly  to  the  present  day.  The  fault  lies 
in  the  muster.  We  are  like  Falstali".  He  took  the 
king's  money  to  press  good  men  and  true,  but  got  to- 
gether such  ragamufKns  that  he  was  ashamed  to  muster 
them.  What  is  the  consequence  ?  People  groan  un- 
der tlieir  connections.  Respectable  persons  tell  me 
such  stories  of  their  servants  who  profess  religion,  as  to 
shame  and  distress  me.  High  pretensions  to  spirituali- 
ty !  Warm  zeal  for  certain  sentiments  !  Priding  them- 
selves in  Mr.  Such-a-one's  ministry  !  But  what  be- 
comes of  their  duties  ? — Oh  these  are  "  beggarly  ele- 
ments "  indeed  !  Sucii  persons  are  alive  to  religious 
TALK ;  but,  if  you  speak  to  them  on  religious  tempers, 
the  subject  grows  irksome. 

Admiration  and  feeling  are  very  distinct  from  eacli 
otiier.  Some  music  and  oratory  enchant  and  astonish, 
but  they  speak  not  to  the  heart.  I  have  been  over- 
whelmed by  Handel's  music  :  the  Dettingen  Te  Deuui 
is  perhaps,  the  greatest  composition  in  the  world:  yet 
1  never,  in  my  life,  heard  Handel,  but  I  could  thuik  of 
something  else  at  the  same  time.  Tlierc  is  a  lund  of 
music  tliat  will  not  allow  this.  Dr.  Worgan  has  so 
touched  the  organ  at  St.  John's,  that  I  have  been  turning 
backward  and  forward  over  the  Prayer  Book  for  the 
first  lesson  in  Isaiah,  and  wondered  that  I  could  not  find 
Isaiah  there  !  The  musician  and  the  orator  fall  short  of 
tlie  full  power  of  their  science,  if  the  hearer  is  left  in 
possession  of  himself. 


220 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


The  churcli  of  England  is  not  fitted  in  its  present 
stale,  for  a  general  church.  Its  secularity  must  be 
purged  away.  We  shall  hasten  that  day  when  Chris- 
tians shall  be  of  one  heart  and  one  mind,  if  we  incul- 
cate the  spirit  of  charity  in  our  respective  circles.  I 
have  aimed  much  at  this  point,  and  shall  push  it  farther. 
The  rest  must  be  left  to  Providence.  He  only  can,  by 
unknown  means,  heal  the  schisms  of  the  church,  and 
unite  it  together  as  one  external  body :  and  that  this 
will  be  done  as  some  think,  by  persecution,  appears 
highly  probable.  I  see  no  other  means  adequate  to 
the  end. 

Hypocrisy  is  folly.  It  is  much  easier,  safer,  and 
pleasanter,  to  be  the  thing  w  hich  a  man  aims  to  appear, 
than  to  keep  up  the  appearance  of  being  what  he  is 
not.  When  a  Christian  is  truly  such  he  acts  from  a  na- 
ture— a  new  nature — and  all  the  actings  of  that  nature 
have  the  ease  and  pleasantness   of  nature  in  them. 


Humiliation  is  the  spirit  of  our  dispensation — not  a 
creeping,  servile,  canting  humility  :  but  an  entire  self- 
renunciation.  The  Mystics  often  talk  admirably  on 
the  subject.  Pride  is  the  most  universal  and  inveter- 
ate of  all  vices.  Every  man  is  a  proud  man,  though 
all  are  not  equally  proud.  No  sin  harrasses  the  Chris- 
tian so  much,  nor  accompanies  him  so  unweariedly.  Its 
forms  of  exhibiting  itself  are  infinitely  varied,  and  none 
are  more  common  than  the  aflectation  of  humility.  The 
assumption  of  the  garb  of  humility,  in  all  its  shades  is 
generally  but  an  expression  of  a  proud  mind.  Pride  is 
the  master-sin  of  the  spirit ;  and  the  grace  of  God,  in 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  221 

the  whole  tenor  of  our  dispensation,  is  directed  against  it. 

I  EXTEND  the  circle  of  real  religion  very  widely. — 
Many  men  fear  God,  and  love  God,  and  have  a  sincere 
desire  to  serve  him,  vviiose  views  of  religious  truth  are 
very  imperfect,  and  in  some  points  perhaps  utterly  false. 
But  I  doubt  not  that  many  such  persons  have  a  state  of 
heart  acceptable  before  God. 

Man  is  a  creature  of  extremes.  The  middle  path  is 
generally  the  wise  patii  ;  but  there  are  few  wise  enough 
to  find  it.  Because  Papists  have  made  too  much  of 
some  things,  Protestants  have  made  too  little  of  them. 
The  Papists  treat  man  as  all  sense  ;  and,  therefore, 
some  Protestants  Avould  treat  him  as  all  spirit.  Because 
one  party  has  exalted  the  virgin  Mary  to  a  divinity,  the 
other  can  scarcely  think  of  that  most  highly  favored 
among  ivomen  with  common  respect.  The  Papist  puts 
the  Apocrypha  into  his  canon — the  Protestant  will  J 
scarcely  regard  it  as  an  ancient  record.  The  Popish  '  ^ 
heresy  of  human  merit  in  justification,  drove  Luther 
on  the  other  side  into  most  unwarrantable  and  unscrip- 
tural  statements  of  that  doctrine.  The  Papists  consid- 
er grace  as  inseparable  from  the  participation  of  the 
sacraments — the  Protestants  too  often  lose  sight  of 
them  as  instituted  means  of  conveying  grace. 

The  language  of  irreligion  in  the  heart,  is,  "Give — 
give — now — now — wliatever  the  flesh  and  the  eye  lust 
after,  and  wliatever  gratifies  the  pride  of  life.  Give  it 
now — for,  as  to  any  reversion,  I  will  not  sacrifice  a  single 
hist  for  it ;  or,  if  I  must  have  a  religion,  it  shall  be  any 
T  2 


222 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


thing  rather  than  that  demeaning  system  which  makes 
every  thing  a  mere  boon." 

Inste.^d  of  attempting  any  logical  and  metaphysical 
explanation  of  justification  by  the  imputed  righteous- 
ness of  Christ,  all  which  attempts  have  human  infirmity 
stamped  upon  them,  I  would  look  at  the  subject  in  the 
great  and  impressive  light  in  which  scripture  places  it 
before  me.  It  teaches  me  to  regard  the  intervention  of 
Christ  for  me,  as  the  sole  ground  of  all  expectation  to- 
ward God.  In  consideration  of  his  sufferings,  my  guilt 
is  remitted,  and  I  am  restored,  to  that  which  I  had  lost 
by  sin.  Let  us  add  to  this,  that  the  sufferings  of  Christ 
were  in  our  stead,  and  we  shall  see  the  point  of  view 
in  which  Scripture  sets  him  forth  as  the  deserver  and 
procurer  to  us  of  all  pardon  and  grace.  The  thing  is 
declared — not  explained.  Let  us  not  therefore  dark- 
en a  subject  which  is  held  forth  in  a  prominent  light, 
by  our  idle  endeavors  to  make  it  better  understood. 

Regeneration  and  conversion  may  be  distinguish- 
ed from  each  other,  though  they  cannot  be  separated. 
They  may  be  distinguished  ;  as  a  man's  being  disposed 
to  go  in  a  certain  road,  and  his  actually  going  in  that 
road,  may  be  distinguished  :  for  regeneration  is  God's 
disposing  the  heart  to  himself;  but  conversion  is  the 
actual  turning  of  the  heart  to  God. 

There  is  an  immeasurable  distance  between  the 
genuine  and  the  spurious  Christian.  The  genuine  Chris- 
tian may  be  weak,  wild,  eccentric,  fanatical,  faulty ; 
but  he  is  right-hearted  :  you  find  tlie  root  of  the  mat- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


223 


ter  in  him.  The  spurious  Christian  is  the  most  danger- 
ous of  men,  and  one  of  the  most  difficult  to  deal  with. 
You  see  what  lie  is,  but  you  hnd  it  almost  impossible 
to  keep  clear  of  him.  He  will  seek  your  acquaintance, 
in  order  to  authenticate  his  own  character — to  indorse 
his  own  reputation.  But  avoid  him.  His  errors  and 
vices  will  be  assigned  to  the  church,  by  an  indiscrimin- 
ating  world.  There  is  less  danger  in  associating  with 
worldly  people  by  profession,  and  more  tenderness  to  be 
exercised  toward  them.  St.  Paul  teaches  us  the  dis- 
tinction, 1  Cor.  V.  9 — 11. 

I  FEEL  disposed  to  treat  carnal  men  and  carnal  min- 
isters with  tenderness,  not  to  show  them  that  1  am  a 
spiritually  proud  man.  Let  them  see  that  you  have 
some  secret  in  possession,  which  keeps  you  quiet,  hum- 
ble, patient,  holy,  meek,  and  affectionate,  in  a  turbulent 
and  passionate  world. 

The  character  of  Balaam  is  not  uncommon  in  the 
churchi  I  have  been  amazed  to  see  religious  profess- 
ors, whose  ungodly  character  has  been  known  and  read 
of  all  men,  who  have  nevertheless  entertained  a  good 
opinion  of  themselves.  I  have  accounted  for  it,  by  sup- 
posing that  they  build  entirely  on  the  distinction  of  their 
views  of  truth  from  those  of  other  men.  They  "  know 
the  points :  they  see  the  distinctions :  and,  moreover, 
they  approve  what  they  know,  and  desire  to  die  the 
death  of  the  righteous  and  be  where  they  are — and, 
certainly,  they  must  be  the  men  of  God's  council,  and 
the  men  who  stand  on  his  side  against  the  world  !" 


224 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


I  HAVE  long  adopted  an  expedient^  wliicli  I  have 
found  of  singular  serv  ice.  I  have  a  shelf  in  my  study, 
for  tried  authors  ;  and  one  in  my  mind,  for  tried  prin- 
ciples and  characters. 

When  an  author  has  stood  a  thorough  examination, 
and  will  bear  to  be  taken  as  a  guide,  I  put  him  on  the 
shelf ! 

When  I  have  more  fully  made  up  my  mind  on  a  prin- 
ciple, I  put  it  on  the  shelf  I  A  hundred  subtle  objec- 
tions may  be  brought  against  this  principle :  I  may 
meet  with  some  of  them,  perhaps  ;  but  my  principle  is 
on  the  shelf !  Generally,  I  may  be  able  to  recal  the 
reasons  which  weighed  with  me  to  put  it  there  :  but  if 
not,  I  am  not  to  be  sent  out  to  sea  again.  Time  was, 
when  I  saw  through  and  detected  all  tiie  subtleties  that 
could  be  brought  against  it.  I  have  past  evidence  of 
having  been  fully  convinced  ;  and  there  on  the  shelf  it 
shall  lie  ! 

When  I  have  turned  a  character  over  and  over  on 
all  sides,  and  seen  it  tlirough  and  through  in  all  situa- 
tions, I  put  it  on  the  shelf.  There  may  be  conduct  in 
the  person  which  may  stumble  others  :  there  may  be 
great  inconsistencies  :  there  may  be  strange  and  unac- 
countable turns — but  I  have  put  that  character  on  the 
shelf :  difficulties  will  all  be  cleared  up  :  every  thing 
will  come  round  again.  I  should  be  much  chagrined, 
indeed,  to  be  obliged  to  take  a  character  down  which 
I  had  once  put  up  ;  but  that  has  never  been  the  case 
with  me  yet ;  and  the  best  guard  against  it,  is — not  to 
be  too  hasty  in  putting  them  there. 

Influence,  whether  derived  from  money,  talents  o»- 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


226 


connexions,  is  power  :  there  is  no  person  so  insignificant, 
but  he  has  much  of  this  power  :  the  little  Israelite  maid, 
in  Naaman's  family,  is  an  instance  :  some,  indeed  sup- 
pose that  they  have  more  power  than  they  really  have  ; 
but  we  generally  think  we  have  less  than  we  in  reality 
have.  Whoever  neglects  or  misapplies  this  power,  is 
an  unprofitable  servant ;  unbelief,  timidity,  and  delica- 
cy often  cramp  its  exertion  ;  but  it  is  our  duty  to  call 
ourselves  out  to  the  exertion  of  this  power,  as  Mordecai 
called  out  Esther  (ch.  iv.:)  it  is  our  duty  to  watch 
against  every  thing  that  might  hinder  or  pervert  our 
influence  :  for  mere  regard  to  reputation  will  often  carry 
many  into  error :  who  would  not  follow  Aaron  in  wor- 
shipping the  golden  calf?  Even  men  of  feeble  public 
talents  may  acquire  much  influence  by  kindness  and 
consistency  of  character :  ministers  are  defective  in 
resting  their  personal  influence  too  much  on  their  pub- 
lic ministry  :  time  will  give  weight  to  a  man's  character  ; 
and  it  is  one  advantage  to  a  man  to  be  cast  early  into 
his  situation,  that  he  may  earn  a  character. 

The  instances  of  artifice  which  occur  in  scripture 
are  not  to  be  imitated  but  avoided  :  if  Abraham,  or 
Isaac,  or  Jacob  equivocate  in  order  to  obtain  their  ends, 
this  is  no  warrant  to  me  to  do  so  :  David's  falsehood 
concerning  Goliath's  sword  argued  distrust  of  God.  If 
any  part  of  the  truth  which  I  am  bound  to  communicate 
be  concealed,  this  is  sinful  artifice :  the  Jesuits  in  Chi- 
na, in.  order  to  remove  the  offence  of  the  cross,  declared 
that  it  was  a  falsehood  invented  by  the  Jews  that  Christ 
was  crucified ;  but  they  were  expelled  from  the  em- 
pire :  and  tliis  was  designed,  perhaps,  to  be  held  np  as 


226 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


a  warning  to  all  missionaries,  that  no  good  end  is  to  be 
carried  by  artifice. 

But  ADDRESS  is  of  a  different  nature.  There  is  no 
falsehood,  deception,  or  equivocation  in  address.  St. 
Paul,  for  instance,  employed  lawful  address,  and  not  ar- 
tifice, when  he  set  the  Sadducees  and  Pharisees  at  va- 
riance :  he  employed  a  lawful  argument  to  interest  tlie 
Pharisees  in  his  favor  :  this  was  great  address,  but  it 
jiad  nothing  of  criminal  artifice.  In  Joshua's  ambushes 
for  the  men  of  Ai  there  was  nothing  sinful :  it  was  a  law- 
ful stratagem  of  war :  it  would  have  been  unlawful  to 
tell  the  men  of  Ai  there  was  no  ambush  :  but  they  knew 
that  they  came  out  of  their  city  liable  to  such  ambushes. 
Christ's  conduct  at  Emmaus,  and  that  of  the  angels  of 
Sodom,  were  meant  as  trials  of  the  regard  of  tliose  with 
whom  they  were  conversing. 

Precipitation  is  acting  without  sufficient  grounds 
of  action.  Youth  is  the  pecuUar  season  of  precipita- 
tion: tiie  young  man's  motto  is  "onward!"  There  is 
no  such  effectual  cme  of  this  evil^  as  experience  :  when 
a  man  is  made  to  feel  the  effects  of  his  precipitation, 
both  in  body  and  mind  :  and  God  alone  can  thus  bring 
a  man  acquainted- with  himself.  Tliere  is  a  self-blind- 
ness in  precipitation :  a  precipitate  man  is,  at  the  time, 
a  blind  man  :  That  be  far  from  thee  !  said  St.  Peter  : 
this  shall  not  happen  to  thee.  As  the  Lord  liveth, 
said  David,  the  man  that  hath  done  this  thiny  shall 
surely  die ! 

There  is  great  criminality  in  precipitation.  A  man 
under  its  influence  is  continually  tempted  to  take  God's 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


227 


work  out  of  his  liands.  It  is  not  a  state  of  dependance. 
It  betrays  want  of  patience  witli  respect  to  God :  and 
want  of  faith  :  Z  shall  one  day  perish  by  the  hand  of 
Saul.  It  discovers  a  want  of  charity  :  in  a  rash  mo- 
ment we  may  do  an  injury  to  our  neighbor^  wliich  we 
can  never  repair. 

There  are  few,  who  do  not  feel  that  they  are  suffer- 
ing through  life  the  effects  of  their  own  precipitation. 
He,  tlien,  that  trnsteth  his  mvn  heart,  is  a  fool.  In 
precipitate  moments  we  should  learn  to  say,  "  I  am  not 
now  the  man  to  give  an  opinion,  or  to  take  a  single 
step  !" 

Method,  as  Mrs.  More  says,  is  the  very  hinge  of 
business  :  and  there  is  no  method  without  punctuality. 
Punctuality  is  important,  because  it  subserves  the  peace 
and  good  temper  of  a  family  :  the  want  of  it  not  only 
infringes  on  necessary  duty,  but  sometimes  excludes  tliis 
duty.  Punctuality  is  important  as  it  gains  time  :  it  is 
like  packing  things  in  a  box  :  a  good  packer  will  get 
in  half  as  much  more  as  a  bad  one.  The  calmness  of 
mind  which  it  produces,  is  another  advantage  of  punc- 
tuality :  a  disorderly  man  is  always  in  a  hurry  :  he  has 
no  time  to  speak  with  you,  because  he  is  going  else- 
where ;  and  when  he  gets  there,  he  is  too  late  for  his 
business,  or  lie  must  hurry  away  to  another  before  he 
can  finish  it.  It  was  a  wise  maxim  of  the  Duke  of  New- 
castle— "  I  do  one  thing  at  a  time."  Punctuality  gives 
weight  to  character.  Such  a  man  has  made  an  ap- 
pointment :  then  I  know  he  will  keep  it.  And  this 
generates  punctuality  in  you :  for  like  other  virtues,  it 
propagates  itself:  servants  and  children  must  be  punc- 


22S 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


tual,  wliere  their  leader  is  so.  Appointments,  indeed, 
become  debts  :  I  owe  you  punctuality,  if  1  have  made 
an  appointment  with  you  ;  and  have  no  right  to  throw 
away  your  time  if  I  do  my  own. 

It  is  a  difficult  question  in  casuistry — Hoivfar  a  man 
is  bound  to  betray  confidence  for  the  general  good. 
Let  it  be  considered  what  consequences  would  follow 
from  a  .man's  disclosing  all  the  evil  he  knows.  The 
w^orld  would  become  a  nest  of  scorpions.  He  must  of- 
ten mistake,  and  of  course  calumniate.  Such  is  liis  in- 
capacity to  determine  what  is  really  evil  in  his  neigh- 
bor, and  such  are  the  mischiefs  frequently  arising  from 
the  disclosure  of  even  what  should  be  in  truth  evil,  that 
he  seems  rather  called  on  to  be  silent,  till  circumstances 
render  it  a  case  of  duty  to  remain  silent  no  longer.  But 
if  this  be  his  general  rule,  it  will  be  his  duty  to  ob- 
serve silence  much  oftener  in  cases  of  confidence. 
Professional  men — a  minister — a  lawyer — a  medical 
man — have  an  official  secrecy  imposed  on  them.  If  this 
were  not  the  case — a  distrest  conscience  could  never 
unburt hen  itself  to  its  confessor.  Incalculable  injuries 
to  health  and  property  must  be  sustained,  for  want  of 
proper  advisers.  This  applies  in  a  very  high  sense  to  a 
minister,  considered  as  a  confessor — a  director  of  the 
conscience.  An  alarmed  conscience  will  unfold  its 
most  interior  recesses  before  him.  It  is  said  Dr.  Owen 
advised  a  man,  who,  under  religious  convictions  con- 
fessed to  him  a  murder  which  he  had  perpetrated  some 
years  before,  to  surrender  himself  up  to  justice.  The 
man  did  so,  and  was  executed.  I  think  Dr.  Owen  er- 
red in  his  advice.    I  thought  myself  right,  in  urging  on 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL.  229 

persons  who  have  opened  their  hearts  to  me,  deep  hu- 
miliation before  God  for  crimes  committed  in  an  un- 
converted state  :  but,  as  it  liad  pleased  Him  to  give  a 
thorough  hatred  of  those  crimes  to  the  mind,  and  a  con- 
sequent self-loathing  and  humiliation,  and  yet  to  allow 
in  his  providence  that  they  should  have  remained  un- 
discovered, I  judged  that  the  matter  might  be  safely 
left  with  him.  Yet  there  may  be  cases  in  which  general 
consequences  require  that  confidence  should  be  betray- 
ed. Such  cases  usually  relate  to  evil  in  progress. 
To  j)revent  or  counteract  such  evil,  it  may  be  necessary 
to  disclose  what  has  been  entrusted  in  confidence.  Yet 
the  party  should  be  honestly  warned,  if  ifs  purposes 
are  not  changed,  what  duty  your  conscience  will  re- 
quire. 

I  HAVE  felt  twice  in  my  life  very  extraordinary  im- 
pressions after  sermons,  and  that  from  men  least  cal- 
culated to  afl'ect  me.  A  man  of  great  powers,  but  so 
dissipated  on  every  thing  that  he  knew  nothing — a  friv- 
olous, futile  babbler,  whom  I  was  ready  almost  to  de- 
spise— surprised  and  chained  me  so,  in  my  own  church 
at  Lewes,  that  1  was  thunder-struck :  I  think  it  was 
concerning  the  dove  not  finding  rest  for  the  sole  of  her 
foot  :  he  felt  the  subject  strongly  himself ;  and  in  spite 
of  all  my  prejudices  against  him,  and  my  real  knowl- 
edge of  his  character,  he  made  me  feel  it  as  I  have  scarce- 
ly ever  done  before  or  since.  In  the  other  instance,  I 
had  to  do  with  a  very  different  character  :  he  was  a  sim- 
ple, but  weak  man  :  it  pleased  God,  however,  to  shoot 
an  arrow  by  his  hand  into  my  heart  :  I  had  been  some 
time  in  a  dry,  fruitless  frame,  and  was  persuading  my- 


230 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECfL. 


self  that  all  was  going  on  well :  he  said  one  day,  at 
Lewes,  with  an  indiscribable  simplicity,  that  "  men 
might  cheer  tliemselves  in  the  morning,  and  they  might 
pass  on  tolerably  well  perhaps  without  God  at  noon  ; 
but  the  cool  of  the  day  was  coming,  when  God  would 
come  down  to  talk  Avith  them."  It  was  a  message  from 
God  to  me  :  1  felt  as  though  God  had  descended  into  the 
cliurch,  and  was  about  to  call  me  to  my  account  !  In 
the  former  instance,  I  was  more  surprised  and  astonish- 
ed than  aiiected  religiously  ;  but,  in  this,  I  was  unspeak- 
ably moved. 

Constitutional  bias  is  a  suspicious  interpreter  of 
PROVIDENTIAL  LEADINGS.  A  man's  besetting  sin  lies  in 
that  to  which  his  nature  is  most  inclined ;  and,  there- 
fore, to  walk  wisely  and  holily,  he  should  be  very  jeal- 
ous of  such  supposed  leadings  in  Providence  as  draw 
with  his  constitutional  propensity.  He  is  never  safe, 
unless  he  is  in  the  act  of  collaring  his  nature  as  a  rebel, 
and  forcing  it  into  submission.  A  sanguine  man  sees 
a  sign  and  token  in  every  thing  :  in  every  ordinary  oc- 
currence, his  imagination  hears  a  call :  his  pious  fancy 
is  the  source  and  food  of  an  eager,  disquieted,  and  rest- 
less habit  of  mind.  An  enterprising  man  has  great  fa- 
cility in  finding  God  in  whatever  seems  to  open  to  hon- 
or, or  influence,  or  power.  But  he  has  lost  the  right 
estimate  of  things  :  if  God  seem  to  draw  with  an  en- 
terprising mind,  the  man  should  stand  and  tremble. 
Providence  may  really  lead  some  retired  and  humble 
men  into  situations  which  the  ambitious  man  would 
covet :  but,  even  in  that  case,  it  is  not  to  be  regarded 
as  an  evidence  of  favor,  so  much  as  an  increase  of  trisJ 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


2.31 


and  responsibility  :  but  he  can  never  open  before  an 
enterprising  and  ambitious  character,  unless  in  judg;- 
ment,  or  in  such  imminence  of  trial  as  should  call  the 
man  to  self-suspicion  and  humility.  A  pleasurable 
man  easily  discerns  God's  hand  iu  every  ll)in<^,  which 
seems  to  put  his  favorite  indulgences  witiiiri  his  power  : 
such  a  thing  was  a  great  providence  !  and  he  is  vastly 
grateful !  while  he  sees  not  that  he  is  led  away  to  brok- 
en cisterns.  An  idle  man  has  a  constant  tendency  to 
torpidity.  He  has  adopted  the  Indian  maxim — that  it 
is  better  to  walk  than  to  run,  and  better  to  stand  than 
to  walk,  and  better  to  sit  than  to  stand,  and  better  to 
lie  than  to  sit.  He  hugs  himself  into  the  notion,  that 
God  calls  him  to  be  quiet  : — that  he  is  not  made  for 
bustling  and  noise  ! — that  such  and  such  a  thing  plainly 
show  him  he  ought  to  retire  and  sit  still !  A  busy  man 
is  never  at  rest :  he  sees  himself  called  so  often  into  ac- 
tion, that  he  digs  too  much  to  suffer  any  thing  to  grow, 
and  waters  so  profusely  that  he  drowns.  The  danger 
in  all  these  cases  is,  lest  a  man  should  bless  himself  m 
his  SNARES  ! 


Adam  well  observes  : — "  A  poor  country  parson, 
fighting  against  the  devil  in  his  parish,  has  nobler  ideas 
than  Alexander  had."  Men  of  the  world  know  nothing  of 
true  glory  :  they  know  nothing  of  the  grandeur  of  that 
sentiment — Thou,  O  God  art  the  thing  I  long  for ! 
You  may,  perhaps,  find  this  sentiment  in  the  corner  of 
some  monastery,  where  a  poor  ignorant  creature  is 
mumbUng  over  his  prayers :  or,  it  may  even  be  found  to 
exist  vvitli  the  nonsense  and  fanaticism  of  a  Swedenbor 
gian  ;  but,  wherever  it  is,  it  is  true  dignity. 


232 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


Look  at  the  bravery  of  the  world  !  Go  into  the 
Park.  Who  is  the  object  of  admiration  there  ? — The 
captain  swelling  and  strutting  at  the  head  of  his  corps  ! 
And  what  is  there  at  the  court  ? — "  Make  way  !  Make 
way  "'  And  who  is  this  ?  A  bit  of  clay  with  a  ribbon 
tied  round  it !  Now  it  makes  nothing  against  the  com- 
parative emptiness  and  littleness  of  these  things,  that  I 
or  any  man  should  be  ensnared  by  them,  and  play  the 
fool  with  the  rest  of  the  species.  Truth  is  truth,  and 
dignity  is  dignity  in  spite  of  the  en-ors  and  follies  of  any 
man  living. 

But  this  is  the  outside.  What  are  the  greatest  minds, 
and  the  noblest  projects  of  the  world,  compared  with  a 
Christian  !  Take  Mr.  Pitt  for  instance ;  and  contrast 
him  with  the  most  insignificant  old  woman  in  the  cliurch 
of  Christ !  If  the  Bible  be  not  true  you  have  no  stan- 
dard :  all  your  reasonings,  and  science,  and  philosophy, 
and  metaphysics^  are  gross  absurdity  and  folly.  But  if 
the  Bible  be  true,  Mr.  Pitt,  great  and  noble  as  he  is, 
yet,  considered  as  a  mere  politician,  even  Mr.  Pitt  has 
a  little,  contracted,  mean  mind  ! — a  driveller  ! — an  earth 
worm  !  Compared  with  his  projects  and  schemes,  the 
old  woman,  who  rises  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
lights  her  farthing  candle,  stands  all  day  over  her  wash- 
tub,  at  night  puts  on  her  red  cloak,  steals  out  to  some 
place  of  worship,  hears  the  truths  of  the  gospel  mangled 
perhaps  with  ignorant  yet  honest  zeal,  but  draws  in  good 
into  an  honest  and  prepared  heart — why,  this  woman  is  a 
heroine — a  noble  mind — compared  with  the  greatest 
of  men,  considered  as  a  mere  man  of  this  world  ! 

Bishop  Wilkins  has  said  admirably,  Tiiat  nothing  in 
man  is  great,  but,  so  far  as  it  is  connected  mth  God. 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


233 


The  only  wise  thing  recorded  of  Xerxes,  is  his  reflec- 
tion on  the  sight  of  liis  army— That  not  one  of  tliat  im- 
mense multitude  would  survive  a  hundred  years  :  it 
seems  to  have  been  a  momentary  gleam  of  true  light 
and  feeling. 


v2 


APPENDIX. 


REMARKS  BY  MR.  CECIL,  COMMUNICATED  TO  THE 
EDITOR  BY  SOME  FRIENDS. 


A  HIDING-PLACE  implies  secrecy.  He  who  can  say 
unto  God,  Tlrni  art  my  hiding-place,  may  go  abroad 
about  his  affairs,  and  may  pass  through  a  tliousand  dan- 
gers, and  yet,  at  tlie  same  time,  have  such  a  hiding- 
place,  in  the  favor  and  protection  of  God,  that,  when 
he  seems  to  be  exposed  on  every  side,  still  he  is  secured 
and  hidden  from  every  evil. 

A  GREAT  man,  however  high  his  office  and  talents,  is 
dependent  on  little  things.  Jonah  was  exceeding  glad 
of  his  gourd.  However  splendid  and  towering,  man 
is  crushed  beneath  the  moth,  if  God  does  not  uphold 
him :  so  that  while  we  are  admiring  the  great  man  as 
he  is  called,  and  however  he  may  be  disposed  to  admire 
himself,  and  to  speak  great  svselling  words  of  vanity, 
facts  will  show  that  he  is  a  poor,  dependent  creature, 
who  cannot  Uve  a  moment  without  God.  If  the  Holy 
Spirit  opens  his  eyes,  he  will  perceive  that  he  cannot 
stand  alone  ;  but  he  can  only  support  himself  and  climb, 
like  the  ivy,  by  clasping  one  stronger  than  himself. 

Dreams  are  common  to  sleeping.  No  man  begins  to 
slumber  in  religion,  but  he  falls  into  some  golden  dream. 


236 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


It  is  a  device  of  Satan  to  seduce  men  into  a  drowsy 
state,  and  then  to  beguile  them  with  some  dream. — 
Wlien  the  duties  of  rehgion  become  irksome,  then  lie 
presents  some  novelty  which  allures  and  deceives  us  : 
whereas,  had  we  been  in  life  and  vigor,  we  should  have 
detected  the  deceit. 

There  are  no  greater  objects  of  pity  in  the  world, 
than  men  who  are  admired  by  all  around  for  their  nice 
discernment  and  fine  taste  in  every  thing  of  a  worldly 
nature,  but  have  no  taste  for  the  riches  that  endure  for- 
ever— no  love  for  God  or  his  word — no  love  for  Clirist  or 
their  souls.  In  such  a  state,  however  admired  or  re- 
spected, they  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God. 

A  SPIRITUAL  man  is  a  character  that  rises  far  above  all 
worldly  wisdom  and  science.  He  is  described  by  our 
Lord  as  born  of  the  Spirit.  Spiritual  senses  are  giv- 
en to  him.  He  has  a  spiritual  taste  that  rejects  what- 
ever is  injurious,  and  gladly  receives  whatever  is  salu- 
tary to  the  spiritual  life  :  he  desires  the  sincere  milk  of 
the  word,  that  he  may  grow  thereby.  He  has  a  spir- 
itual SIGHT  :  he  looks  not  at  the  things  ivhich  are 
seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen.  He 
smells  a  sweet  savor  in  the  things  of  God.  His  name 
is  as  ointment  poured  forth.  He  has  a  quick  feel- 
ing. And  he  has  a  spiritual  ear  ;  My  sheep  hear  my 
voice.  He  lives  in  a  world  of  his  own  :  he  is  tried  by 
spiritual  conflicts,  and  supported  by  spiritual  comforts. 
If  the  things  of  God  do  not  afford  him  consolation,  he 
droops,  and  nothing  in  this  w  orld  can  lift  up  his  head : 
he  will  say  to  every  other  object,il/i*era6/e  comforters 


APPENDIX. 


237 


are  ye  all !  He  is  pursuing  a  spiritual  end,  and  wliile 
others  boast  and  are  puffed  up  witii  their  great  attain- 
ments, he  is  liumbled  in  the  dust,  and  cives  all  dorv 
to  God.  ^ 


Theue  are  critical  circumstances,  under  which  a  man 
who  is  in  general  on  his  guard,  is  called  to  redouble  his 
Christian  vigilance.  If  he  is  about  to  encounter  im- 
minent danger,  for  instance,  he  will  take  care  to  secure 
himself  by  every  possible  means.  A  house  may  be  well 
guarded  and  secured,  but,  if  there  is  any  fear  and  ex- 
pectation of  thieves,  every  place  will  be  doubly  barred 
and  watched.  Good  care  may  be  taken,  in  the  gener- 
al habits  of  a  family,  to  guard  against  fire  ;  but  if  it  be 
known  that  a  spark  has  fallen  among  any  combustibles, 
every  possible  search  is  made  to  discover  it  and  to  pre- 
vent its  ravages.  Thus  should  every  servant  of  Christ 
redouble  his  guard  in  critical  circumstances.  He  should 
remember,  that,  while  awful  providences  seem  to  be 
threatening  us,  and  wliile  we  are  surrounded  with  dan- 
gers on  every  side,  and  while  the  enemy  of  our  souls  is 
ijoiny  about  as  a  roaring  lion  seeking  wliont  he  may 
devour,  it  ill  becomes  us  to  trifle.  Let  us  stir  up  our- 
selves, and  attend  to  our  Master's  admonition.  Let 
your  loins  be  girded  about,  and  your  lights  burn- 
ing, and  ye  yourselves  like  unto  men  that  wait  for 
their  Lord. 


If  St.  Paul  had  not  been  an  entire  character,  he 
would  not  have  spoken  so  ingenuously  of  himself  as  he 
does  in  the  7th  to  the  Romans.  He  would  have  acted 
as  many  others  have  done  :  he  would  have  put  the  best 


238 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


aspect  on  things.  He  would  not  have  opened  the  chatn- 
bers  of  hnagery ;  and  have  shewed,  while  all  the 
chvirch  was  admiring  himj  what  was  passing  within. 
Here  Avere  real  simplicity  and  humility — nothing  of 
that  Pharisee  which  he  once  was.  The  Pliarisee  is  be- 
come a  Publican:  the  reality  is  coming  forward  ;  and 
he  seems  to  say,  "  Is  any  man  groaning  under  a  body 
of  sin  and  death  ? — on  searcliing  his  heart,  does  he 
find  that  therein  divelleth  no  good  thing  ? — -This  is  my 
case  also ;  and  if  I  have  any  thing  wherein  to  glory,  it 
is  in  Christ  and  not  in  myself." 

Charity  should  teach  us  to  exercise  hope  and  love 
toward  all  men — hope  toward  those  who  are  without, 
and  love  toward  those  who  are  within,  the  walls  of  the 
city  of  God.  Of  those  without,  we  are  apt  to  despair 
too  soon,  and  to  say.  There  is  no  hope ;  when  we 
should  labor  to  allure  them  into  the  church  of  God,  and 
to  impress  them  with  a  sense  of  its  glory  and  its  privi- 
leges. Toward  those  within  the  walls,  we  sometimes 
iiiil  ill  the  exercise  of  love  :  we  are  too  much  influenced 
in  our  feelings  toward  (hem  by  a  dilference  of  educa- 
tion, taste,  or  disposition  ;  while  the  great  question 
ought  to  be,  "  Are  they  really  fellow-citizens  with  the 
saints,  and  of  the  houseliold  of  God?" — and  ii  so, 
whatever  their  defects  may  be,  we  ought  to  honor  and 
love  them  as  the  temples  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

When  Christians  are  delivered  from  trouble,  tliey 
are  apt  soon  to  forget  it ;  and  to  lose  sight  of  the  holy 
resolutions  formed  while  under  affliction :  the  strong 
impressions  soon  decay.    Whereas  if  we  were  enabled 


APPENDIX. 


239 


to  glory  in  tribulation — if  our  conscience  were  made 
tender — if  more  reality  were  put  into  our  prayers — we 
should  take  heed  how  we  give  way  to  an  evil  heart  of 
unbelief:  we  should  remember,  too,  how  our  troubles 
were  brought  on  us,  and  the  benefits  which  we  received 
while  they  continued :  we  should  watch  that  we  might 
not  estimate  them  falsely  :  and  at  all  times,  we  should 
bear  it  in  our  mind,  that  it  is  not  suflfering  which  hurts 
us,  but  sin. 

Some  men  will  follow  Christ  on  certain  conditions — 
if  he  will  not  lead  them  through  rough  roads — if  he  will 
not  enjoin  them  any  painful  tasks — if  the  sun  and  wind 
do  not  annoy  them — if  he  will  remit  a  part  of  his  plan 
and  order.  But  the  true  Christian,  who  has  the  spirit 
of  Jesus,  will  say,  as  Ruth  said  to  Naomi,  "  Whither 
thou  goest,  I  will  go  .'"  whatever  difficulties  and  dan- 
gers may  be  in  the  way. 

It  is  our  happiness,  as  Christians,  that,  however  we 
may  change  our  place,  we  shall  never  change  our  ob- 
ject. Wiiatever  we  lose,  we  shall  not  lose  that  which 
w  e  esteem  better  than  life.  God  has  made  to  us  tiiis 
gracious  promise — I  will  dwell  in  them,  and  tvalk  in 
them.  And  though  we  may  endure  nmch  affliction, 
and  pass  through  many  deep  waters,  yet  this  is  our 
honor  and  comfort,  the  Lord  is  ivith  us !  and  then — 
wliat  is  difliculty  ? — what  is  tribulation  ? — what  is 
death? — Death  to  a  Christian  is  but  an  entrance  into 
the  city  of  God  !  it  is  but  joining  a  more  blessed  com- 
pany, and  singing  in  a  more  exalted  strain,  than  he  can 
do  in  this  world. 


240 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


The  way  of  every  man  is  declarative  of  the  end  of 
that  man. 

How  difficult  is  it  to  show  those  who  are  in  the  house 
of  mourning,  tliat  God  is  teaching  them,  that,  if  they 
had  not  leaned  so  much  on  their  creature-supports,  they 
had  not  been  so  broken  !  Still  they  are  crying,  0  Ab- 
salom, rmj  son,  my  son  !  Why  is  it  that  we  are  shock- 
ed to  see  tlie  world  faUing  to  pieces  around  us,  when 
we  shall  leave  it  ourselves  to-morrow — perhaps  to-day? 
We  forget  tliat  it  is  the  design  of  God  to  dash  every 
thing  to  pieces.  It  is  by  these  trials  that  we  begin  to 
learn  we  have  been  walking  by  sense  rather  than  by 
faith — and  looking  at  our  children  and  our  possessions 
as  though  we  were  never  to  lose  them. 

It  is  by  faith  that  we  are  relieved  under  the  diffi- 
culties of  SENSE.  Sense  revolts,  when  it  views  our 
great  high  Priest  on  the  cross — Faith  glories  in  this  ob- 
ject !  Sense  talks  like  the  Jews  :  He  saved  others  : 
himself  he  cannot  save  :  if  he  be  now  the  King  of 
Israel,  let  him  come  doivn  from  the  cross,  and  tee 
will  believe  him. — Faith  lays  hold  on  him  as  the  Sa- 
viour of  tlie  world,  and  cries,  Lord  !  remember  me 
ivhen  thou  earnest  into  thij  kingdom!  Sense  envies 
the  prosperous  worldling,  and  calls  him  happy — Faith 
goes  into  the  sanctuary,  to  see  what  his  end  will  be. 
When  the  waves  run  high,  Sense  clamors  :  Faitli  says, 
"  Speak  but  the  word,  and  the  winds  and  waves  shall 
obey  thee."  When  we  feel  our  earthly  house  of  this 
tabernacle  taking  down.  Sense  sinks  :  but  Faith  says. 
We  know,  that,  if  our  earthly  house  of  this  taberna- 


APPENDIX. 


241 


c7e  be  dissolved  ice  have  a  building  of  God,  a  house 
not  made  ivith  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 


Wisdom  pre[>ares  for  tire  worst ;  but  folly  leaves 
the  worst  for  that  day  when  it  comes, 

Abraham  teaches  us  the  right  way  of  conversing  with 
God  :  And  Abraham  fell  on  Ids  face,  and  God  talked 
tvith  him  !  When  we  plead  with  him  our  faces  should 
be  in  the  dust  :  we  should  not  then  speak  lightly  of 
him,  nor  complain  5  nor  will  there  be  any  more  boast- 
ing.   We  shall  abase  ourselves  and  exalt  God  ! 

The  Christian's  secret  inlercourse  with  God  will, 
make  itself  manifest  to  the  world.  We  may  not  see  the 
husbandman  cast  the  seed  into  the  ground,  yet  when 
the  corn  grov/s  and  ripens  we  know  that  it  was  sown. 
The  mere  professor,  who  may  be  found  every  where 
but  in  his  secret  chamber,  may  think  that  with  care  he 
shall  pass  for  a  good  Cin  istian  :  but  he  mistakes,  for  the 
spirit  WILL  discover  itself,  of  what  sort  it  is.  He,  who 
would  walk  safely  and  honorably,  must  walk  closely 
with  God  in  secret. 

A  VARIETY  of  circumstances  render  the  sinner's  tirst 
approaches  to  Christ  difficult.  They,  who  find  an  easy 
access,  will  find  an  easy  departure  when  troubles  arise. 

The  most  likely  method  we  can  take  to  hasten  the 
removal  of  what  we  love,  is,  to  value  it  too  much— to 
think  on  it  with  endless  anxiety — to  live  on  its  favor 
with  solicitude.  It  shall  soon  either  become  a  thoru  ia 
our  side,  or  be  taken  away. 


242 


RKMAms  OF  MR,  CKCIt, 


Be  ye  not  iineqnally  yoked.  If  a  believer  marries 
an  unbeliever,  tlie  miseries  wliicli  ensue  are  endless. 
Were  they  determined  in  kindness,  to  grant  all  they 
could  to  each  other :  yet  they  live  as  in  two  separate 
worlds.  There  is  a  great  gulf  between  them,  which 
cannot  be  passed  without  the  grace  of  God  ;  on  whicli, 
while  all  should  hope  and  pray  for  it,  none  should  pre- 
sume. Tliey  cannot  taste  the  same  pleasures,  nor  share 
the  same  sorrows,  nor  pursue  the  same  objects,  nor  walk 
in  the  same  path.  What  hope,  then,  can  there  be  of 
comfort  ?  Every  Christian  finds  the  corruptions  of  his 
own  heart,  the  snares  of  the  world,  and  tiie  devices  of 
Satan,  together  with  innumerable  secret  anxieties,  quite 
enough  to  struggle  with,  in  his  journey  to  heaven,  with- 
out adding  another  to  his  difficulties. 


In  studying  the  word  of  God,  digest  it  under  these 
two  heads  :  either  as  removing  obstructions,  which  keep 
God  and  thee  asunder ;  or  as  supplying  some  uniting 
power  to  bring  God  and  thee  together. 


Perhaps  it  is  a  greater  energy  of  Divine  Power, 
which  keeps  the  Christian  from  day  to  day,  from  year 
to  year — praying,  hoping,  running,  believing — against 
all  hinderances — which  maintains  him  as  a  living  mar- 
tyr— than  that  which  bears  him  up  for  an  hour  in  sacri- 
ficing himself  at  the  stake. 

By  the  course  of  his  providence  God  will  assert  the 
liberty  of  his  council. 


Let  me  ask,  every  day,  what  reference  it  has  to  the 


APPENDIX,  243 

day  of  judgment ;  and  cultivate  a  disposition  to  he  re- 
minded  of  that  day. 

rNDULGE  not  a  gloomy  contempt  of  of  any  tiling  m  Iiicli 
IS  m  itself  good  :  only  let  it  keep  its  place. 

God  has  called  us  to  meet  his  best  gift  to  man -his 
only-begotten  Son-not  in  a  splendid  court,  but  in  a 
manger  !-in  the  wilderness  !— in  Gethsemane  !— before 
the  high  priest,  when  they  spat  in  his  face  and  buffeted 
liim,  and  smote  him  !-at  the  cross  !-and  at  the  sepul- 
chre !  Thus  it  is  that  he  corrects  the  pride  and  ambi- 
tion  of  the  human  heart  ! 


There  is  in  sin,  not  only  an  infinite  mischief  done 
to  the  man,  but  it  is  accompanied  by  an  infatuation  that 
surpasses  all  description.  When  the  heart  declmes 
from  God,  and  loses  communion  with  Christ,  the  man 
resembles  one  in  a  consumption,  who  is  on  the  brink  of 
file  grave  and  yet  talks  of  a  speedy  recovery  !  A 
death  will  come  on  the  spirit,  which  will  be  perceived 
and  felt  by  all  aronnd  :  yet,  when  the  most  allectionate 
friends  of  such  a  man  attempt  to  expostulate,  they  ot- 
ten  find  him  not  only  insensible,  but  obstinate  and  stout- 
hearted. He  who,  like  Samson,  the  champion  of  Isra- 
el, lays  his  head  on  the  lap  of  temptation,  will  rarely 
rise  again  as  he  lay  down  :  he  may  say,  I  will  go  out, 
as  at  other  times  before,  and  shake  myself:  but  he 
ivists  not  that  the  Lord  is  departed  from  him  !~ 
Strangers  have  devoured  his  strength,  and  he  know- 
eth  it  not ! 


The  whole  life  of  Christ  was  one  continued  express- 


244 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


ion  of  the  same  desire, — "  Let  me  lay  aside  my  glory 
— let  me  expire  on  the  cross — so  that  thy  kingdom  may 
rome  !"  And  the  blood  of  every  martyr,  whoever  suffer- 
ed in  the  cause  of  God,  cried,  "  Let  thy  kingdom  come  !" 

Growth  in  grace  manifests  itself  by  a  simplicity — 
that  is,  a  greater  naturalness  of  character.  There  will 
be  more  usefulness,  and  less  noise  ;  more  tenderness 
of  conscience,  and  less  scrupulosity  :  there  will  be  more 
peace,  more  humility  :  when  the  full  corn  is  in  the  ear, 
it  bends  down  because  it  is  full. 

The  history  of  all  the  great  characters  of  the  Bible 
is  summed  up  in  this  one  sentence  : — they  acquainted 
themselves  with  God,  and  acquiesced  in  his  will  in  all 
things. 

God's  way  of  answering  the  Christian's  prayer  for  an 
increase  of  patience,  experience,  hope,  and  lo\  e — usual- 
ly is  to  put  him  into  the  furnace  of  tribulation.  St. 
James  therefore  says.  Count  it  all  joy  irhfn  ye  fall 
into  divets  te?nptatio?is.  People  of  the  woild  count 
if  all  joy  when  tliey  are  in  ease  and  ailluence  ;  but  a 
Clu'istian  is  taught  to  count  it  all  joy  when  he  is  tried 
as  gold  in  the  tire. 

In  Christ  we  see  the  most  perfect  exhibition  of  every 
grace,  to  which  we,  as  his  followers,  are  called.  Let 
there  be  but  in  us  that  poverty  of  spirit — that  disposi- 
tion to  bear  with  provocations,  and  to  forgive  injuries — 
that  obedience  to  God  and  acquiescence  in  his  will — 
that  perseverance  in  doing  good — that  love  which  over- 
cometh  all  difficulties^that  meekness,  humility,  pa- 


APPENDIX.  245 

Hence,  compassion,  and  gentleness  which  were  found 
in  Cluist ;  and  if  any  man  should  be  so  ignorant  and 
debased  as  to  imagine  that  this  is  not  true  dignity  of 
CHARACTER,  let  It  be  remembered  that  this  was  the 
mind  irhlch  ivas  also  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Looking  back  is  more  than  we  can  sustain  \vitliout 
going  back.  ! 

W HEN  the  multitudes  followed  our  Lord  on  a  parti- 
cular occasion,  although  he  wished  for  retirement,  and 
Jiad  gone  purposely  to  seek  it,  yet  he  gave  up  his  de- 
sign and  attended  to  them.  Mark  tlie  condescension 
and  tenderness  of  such  conduct,  in  opposition  to  a  sour, 
monastic,  morose  temper.  We  are  too  fond  of  our  own 
will.  We  want  to  be  doing  what  we  fancy  mighty 
tilings  ;  but  the  great  point  is,  to  do  small  things,  when 
called  to  them,  in  a  right  spirit. 

The  world  will  allow  of  a  vehemence  approaching 
to  ecstasy,  on  almost  any  occasion  but  that  which,  above 
all  others,  will  justify  it. 

A  Christian  will  find  his  parenthesis  for  prayer, 
even  through  his  busiest  hours. 

We  treat  sensible  and  present  things  as  realities,  and 
future  and  eternal  things  as  fables  ;  whereas  the  re- 
^el•se  should  be  our  habit. 

An  Enthusiast  will  court  trouble,  and  that  for  it- 
self :  but  a  Christian,  while  he  does  not  court  it,  yet 
rejoices  in  it :  not  for  its  own  sake,  but  because  he 
knows  that  tribulation,  worktlh  patience,  and  pa- 
ae 


246 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


tience  experience,  and  experience  hope — a  hope  that 
maketh  not  ashamed.  While  patience  is  the  fruit  of 
his  conflicts  and  trials,  he  gains  experience  by  them  : 
he  acquires  the  knowledge  which  a  traveller  obtains  in 
performing  a  long  journey :  he  is  in  possession  of  a 
bundle  of  choice  maxims  and  observations,  gathered 
with  much  pains  :  he  is  taught  by  them  to  know  hi? 
own  heart :  he  is  brought  acquainted  with  the  faithful- 
ness and  mercy  of  God,  in  holding  him  up  in  the  deep 
waters,  and  accompanying  him  through  the  fire  of  afflic- 
tion. And  this  experience  produces  hope — a  hope  that 
he  is  savingly  united  to  Christ — a  hope  that  he  is  in  the 
church  of  God — a  hope  of  the  glory  of  God — a  hope 
that  maketh  not  ashamed,  keeping  us  steady  at  an- 
chor through  every  storm,  and  when  every  other  sup- 
port fails. 

There  are  but  two  states  in  the  world  which  may  be 
pronounced  happy —either  that  of  the  man  who  re- 
joices in  the  light  of  God's  countenance,  or  that  of  him 
who  mourns  after  it. 

Let  the  warm-hearted  Christian  be  careful  of  re- 
ceiving a  wrong  bias  in  religion.  When  a  ball  is  in 
motion,  almost  any  thing  presented  to  it  obliquely  will 
turn  it  wholly  out  of  its  course.  Beware,  therefore,  of 
a  wrong  direction  in  Christianity.  Fix  your  attention 
ever  on  such  examples  as  St.  John  and  St.  Paul,  and 
hear  how  they  speak  :  If  any  man  love  not  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  let  him  be  Anathema,  Marantha  ! 

God  denies  a  Christian  nothing,  but  with  a  design  to 
give  him  something  better. 


APPENDIX. 


247 


Cod  (eacl'.es  some  of"  his  best  lessons  in  the  school  of 
aniictioii.  It  is  said  that  St.  Paul's  Epistle  to  the 
Ephesiaiis  has  quite  the  spirit  and  air  of  a  prison.  That 
scliool  must  be  truly  excellent,  which  produces  such  ex- 
perience and  wisdom. 

We  cannot  build  too  confidently  on  the  merits  of 
Christ,  as  our  only  Iwpe ;  nor  can  we  think  too  much 
of  Iht  mind  thai  was  in  Christ,  as  our  great  example. 

AciiRisTrAN  does  not  rflorxj  in  tribulation,  as  he 
does  in  tlie  cross  of  Clirist.  The  Cross  of  Christ  is  the 
OBJECT  in  which  he  glories  :  but  he  glories  in  tribulation 
as  an  appointed  means  and  instrument  in  the  h.and  of 
God,  of  accomplisliing  his  own  pleasure  and  promoting 
our  real  good. 

Never  was  there  a  man  of  deep  piety,  who  has  not 
been  brought  into  extremities— who  has  not  been  put 
into  the  fire — who  lias  not  been  taught  to  say.  Though 
he  slay  me,  yet  ivill  I  trust  in  him  f 


A  Christian's  steps  are  not  only  safe,  but  steady  : — 
He  that  believeth  shall  not  make  haste.  When  dan- 
cer approaches,  he  shall  not  be  thrown  into  confusion 
from  his  alarm,  so  as  ti  be  ready  to  say,  "  Whither 
shall  I  run  ?"  but,  finding  himself  on  safe  ground,  he 
shall  be  quiet.  Being  built  on  the  sure  foundation  and 
established  in  Christ,  he  shall  not  make  haste  in  his 
EXPECTATIONS  :  he  shall  not  make  haste  with  respect  to 
the  promises,  as  tliough  they  were  long  in  their  accom- 
plishment, knowing  that  all  the  promises  of  God  are 
Yeat  and,  in  Christ,  Amen  !    In  affliction,  he  sliall 


248 


REMAINS  OF  SIR.  CECIl. 


not  make  Iiaste  in  ranning  to  broken  cisterns  ,-  as  Asa 
did,  when  in  his  disease,  he  sought  not  to  the  Lord, 
but  to  the  physicians  :  lie  »liall  not  be  alarmed,  or 
driven  about,  as  one  who  lias  not  a  strong-hold  to  enter  ; 
bat  shall  say,  None  of  these  thimjs  move  me  I  neither 
count  I  my  life  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I  might 
finish  my  course  with  joy  I  With  respect  to  his 
CHARACTER,  the  Christian  shall  not  make  haste  :  if  a 
cloud  come  over  his  reputation,  and  Dten  will  suspect 
his  integrity  without  grounds,  he  will  commit  himself  to 
God,  and  wait  his  opportunity,  and  not  make  rasb 
haste  to  justify  and  clear  his  character. 

When  a  man  can  say,  "  My  God  I"  if  he  can  add 
no  more,  that  is  sufficient :  for  my  God  is  all-wise  in 
appointing,  and  almighty  to  uphold  and  to  deliver. 
My  God  is  a  Father  to  me  in  Christ :  yea,  he  is  a  Father 
who  hid  his  face  from  Christ  for  my  good.  If,  then,  I 
am  in  darkness,  let  me  remember  that  God  never  had 
a  Son  that  was  not  sometimes  in  the  dark ;  for  even 
Christ,  his  only  begotten  Son,  cried  out.  My  God !  Mif 
God !  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me  ? 

Few  Christians,  if  any,  sufficiently  honor  Christ,  as. 
governing  their  concerns.  They  do  not  say,  "  Now, 
while  I  am  praying  on  earth,  my  Saviour  is  working 
for  me  in  heaven.  He  is  saying  to  one,  'Do  this  !' — 
and  to  another,  '  Do  that  !' — and  all  for  my  good  !" 
While  Jeremiah  was,  doubtless,  crying  to  God  out  of 
the  dungeon,  Ebed-melech  was  interceding  for  liim 
with  the  king,  and  they  were  preparing  the  means  oi 
his  deliverance.    See  Jer.  xxiviiL 


APPENDIX. 


249 


Let  llie  restless,  comforlless  state  of  a  backslider, 
distinguish  him  from  an  apostate. 

If  you  have  set  out  in  the  M  ays  of  God,  do  not  stum- 
ble at  present  difliculties.  Go  forward.  Look  not 
behind. 


Something  must  be  left  as  a  test  of  the  loyalty  of 
the  heart— in  Paradise,  the  Tree  :  in  Israel,  a  Canaan- 
ite  ;  in  us.  Temptation. 

Religious  joy,  is  a  holy,  a  delicate  deposite.  It  is  a 
pledge  of  something  greater,  and  must  not  be  tiiought 
lightly  of:  for,  let  it  be  withdrawn  only  for  a  Utile,  ami 
notwithstanding  the  experience  we  may  have  had  of  it, 
w  e  shall  find  no  living  creature  can  restore  it  unto  us, 
and  we  can  only,  with  David,  cry,  Restore  unto  me, 
O  Lord,  the  joy  of  thy  salvation. 

A  CHRISTIAN  should  beware  of  that  temptation,  Wliy 
should  I  waif  for  the  Lord  any  loittjcr  ?  lie  should 
rt  inember,  if  it  is  a  time  of  extremity,  tiiat  is  the  very 
reason  why  he  should  wait.  If  his  way  is  so  hedged 
up  that  he  cannot  go  forward,  he  should  say,  "  Now  is 
the  time  for  me  to  stand  still,  and  wait  till  God  opens 
niy  way."  When  my  spirit  was  overwhelmed  within 
me,  tlien  thou  knewest  my  path. 

Human  nature  is  always  puting  forth  its  fears  and  un- 
belief, in  anxious  questions  concerning  to-morrow,  or 
some  threatening  calamity  :  but  Christ  says  to  every 
Christian  ''Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  neither 
let  it  be  afraid  :  I  go  to  pi  epare  a  place  for  you  ; 


250 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CEClt. 


and  I  will  protect  and  guide  you  throughout  the  jour- 
ney tliither." 

God  ivith  US  is  the  traveller's  security.  Jacob  was 
destitute  :  he  had  a  long  and  dreary  journey  ;  but  God 
said.  Behold  I  am  ivith  thee,  and  will  keep  thee  in  all 
places  whither  thou  goest. 

God  calls  not  for  thousands  of  rams  nor  ten  thous- 
ands of  rivers  of  oil :  he  calls  not  his  creatures  to 
live  in  sackcloth  and  ashes,  nor  sets  them  to  perforin 
long  pilgrimages,  nor  to  inflict  pains  on  their  bodies. 
No  !  the  rigors  of  superstition  are  from  man.  The 
voice  of  God  is,  "  Be  happy,  here  and  forever !  Fly 
tliat  which  will  make  you  miserable  every  where! 
Come  unto  me,  all  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden, 
and  I  will  give  you  rest.'' 

The  voice  of  Ciu  ist  is.  My  Son,  give  me  thy  heart ! 
and  to  him,  who  obeys,  he  w  ill  say,  "  Go  in  peace  !  go 
into  the  grave  !  go  to  judgment !  go  into  eternity  !  go 
in  peace !" 

A  CHRISTIAN  must  stand  in  a  posture  to  recei\  e  every 
message  which  God  shall  send.  He  must  be  so  pre- 
pared, as  to  be  like  one  who  is  called  to  set  oft' on  a 
sudden  journey,  and  has  nothing  to  do  but  to  set  out  at 
a  moment's  notice  :  or  like  a  merchant  who  has  goods 
to  send  abroad,  and  has  tiiem  all  i>acked  up  and  in 
readiness  for  the  first  sail. 


How  many  people  go  out  of  their  sphere  under  good 
pretences! 


APPENDIX.  251 

A  PERSON  who  objects  to  tell  a  friend  of  his  faults, 
because  lie  has  faults  of  his  own,  acts  as  a  surgeon 
would  who  should  refuse  to  dress  another  person's  wound 
because  he  had  a  dangerous  one  himself. 

When  the  most  insignificant  person  tells  us  we  are 
wrong,  we  ought  to  listen.  Let  us  believe  it  possible 
we  may  be  wrong,  when  any  one  supposes  we  are  ;  and 
enter  into  the  true  littleness  which  consists  in  receiving 
coiTection  like  a  child. 

No  man  rejects  a  ministtr  of  God  who  faithfully  per- 
forms his  othce,  till  he  has  rejected  God. 

The  plainest  declarations  of  God's  favor  and  the 
strongest  encouragements,  are  generally  manifested  in 
the  darkest  night  of  trial.  Who  could  be  more  desti- 
tute than  Jacob,  when  he  lay  down  in  the  desert  with  a 
stone  for  his  pillow  ?  See  also  Acts  xxvii.  20 — 24.  2 
Cor.  i.  3,  4,  5. 

The  pride  of  Israel  testifieth  to  his  face  ;  and 
they  do  not  return  to  the  Lord  their  God.  This  is 
the  worst  symptom  in  a  sinner — when  he  is  too  proud  to 
go  to  God.  Whatever  be  our  condition,  if  there  is  con- 
trition of  spirit  under  it,  there  is  hope  of  that  man. 
There  is  no  room  for  despair,  to  whatever  lengths  a 
man  may  have  gone  in  sin,  if  he  can  smite  on  his  breast, 
and  say,  "  O  Lord  !  though  my  sins  testify  against  me, 
yet  thou  art  a  God  of  compassion.  Do  thou  it,  for  thy 
name's  sake." 

A  CHRISTIAN  should  never  attempt  to  try  his  state 


252 


REMAIBTS  OF  Mr.  CECIt. 


while  under  a  temptation  :  he  might  as  ^vell  attempt  to 
examine  the  face  of  the  moon  while  she  is  under  an 
eclipse.  But,  when  he  finds  corrupt  nature  setting  in 
with  a  temptation — and  wlio  has  not  felt  this  ? — let  h'lrn 
remember  liis  Great  Physician.  This  is  the  glory  of 
the  Son  of  God,  that  no  case,  either  of  the  body  or  of 
the  soul,  was  ever  found  too  hard  for  him  !  Blessed  be 
God,  that  we  have  in  him  a  hiding-place  —  a  covert 
from  the  storm — a  refuge  from  all  our  enemies  .' 


The  great  care  of  the  man  who  is  content  with  the 
form  of  godliness  without  the  power,  is,  that  every 
thing  should  be  right  without ;  while  the  true  Christian 
is  most  careful  that  every  tiling  should  be  right  w  ithin. 
It  would  be  nothing  to  him  to  be  applauded  by  the 
whole  world,  if  he  had  not  tlie  approbation  of  God  and 
his  own  conscience.  Real  religion  is,  therefore,  a  li\  iug 
principle.  Any  one  may  make  a  show,  and  be  called 
a  Christian,  and  unite  himself  to  a  sect,  and  be  admir- 
ed,— but,  for  a  man  to  enter  into  the  sanctuary  ;  to  hold 
secret  communion  with  God ;  to  retire  into  his  closet, 
and  transact  all  his  affairs  with  an  unseen  Saviour  ;  to 
walk  with  God  like  Enoch,  and  yet  to  smite  on  his 
breast  with  the  Publican,  having  no  confidence  in  the 
tlesh,  and  triumphing  only  in  Christ  Jesus, — these  are 
the  life  and  acts  of  a  new  creature  ' 


O  Lord!  let  me  have  any  thing  buf  thy  frown, 
and  ANY  THING,  U'ith  thy  smile  I* 

*  "  Give  wliat  thou  canst,  without  Thee  we  are  poor ! 
And  with  Thee  rich,  take  what  thou  wilt  away." 

CowpER,  Task.  V.   J.  P. 


APPENDIX. 


253 


Whatever,  below  Goil,  is  the  object  of  our  love, 
•will,  at  some  lime  or  other,  be  the  matter  of  our  sorrow. 

Take  care,  Christian  !  whatever  you  meet  Avith  in 
your  way,  that  you  forget  not  your  father  !  When 
Ihe  proud  and  wealthy  rush  by  in  triumph,  while  you 
are  poor  and  in  sorrow,  hear  the  voice  of  your  Father 
.saying,  "  My  son  !  had  I  loved  them,  I  should  have  cor- 
rected them  too.  I  give  them  up  to  the  ways  of  their 
own  hearts  :  but  lo  my  children,  if  I  give  .sorrow,  it  is 
(hat  I  may  lead  them  to  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadetli 
not  away  ! 

It  is  by  faith  (hat  we  contemplate  unseen  things. 
To  the  eye  of  a  clown,  a  planet  appears  but  a  twinkhng 
star :  but  if  he  looked  through  a  telescope,  and  were 
able  to  calculate,  he  would  perceive  that  it  was  a  great 
world,  and  would  be  astonished  at  its  distance  and 
magnitude.  While  the  gay  and  the  busy  are  moving 
on  their  little  mole-hills  full  of  anxiety,  faith  thus  reache.s 
beyond  the  world  :  it  views  death  as  at  hand  :  it  looks 
at  heaven,  and  catches  a  glimpse  of  its  glory  :  it  looks 
at  hell,  and  sees  the  torments  of  the  condemned :  it 
looks  at  judgment,  and  reali  zes  that  awful  day  :  it  looks 
at  eternity,  and  says,  Our  light  affliction,  which  i.s 
but  for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far  more  ex- 
ceediiifj  and  eternal  n-eicjht  of  glory  :  tvhile  we  look 
not  at  the  things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things 
which  are  not  seen  ;  for  the  things  which  are  seen 
are  temporal,  but  the  things  which  are  not  seen 
are  eternal. 


Where  there  is  a  real  character,  a  man  will  not  sit 


254 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIt . 


down  in  the  Clirislian  conflict,  and  say,  "  If  I  must  can  y 
about  witli  mc  this  body  of  death,  I  must  submit.  I 
must  bear  these  enemies  as  quietly  as  I  can."  No  !  he 
will  say,  as  St.  Paul  seems  to  say,  "  I  will  be  on  no 
terms  with  sin  !  I  will  raise  an  outcry  against  the  cor- 
rupt nature  !  I  will  triumph  in  my  Physician  !  His 
grace  is  sufficient  for  me  :  I  will  wait  for  a  cure,  and 
wait  for  it  in  tiie  appointed  way.  I  see  light,  and  hope, 
and  liberty  ;  and  I  thank  God,  that,  if  I  am  a  sinner, 
yet  I  am  a  saved  sinner !" 

God  halh  set  the  day  of  prosperity  and  the  day 
of  adversity,  the  one  over  ayainst  the  other— &s  the 
clouds  are  gathered,  for  rain,  by  the  shining  of  the  sun  : 
and,  if  for  a  moment  they  are  blown  aside,  we  must  ex- 
pect their  return.  Where,  in  our  sky,  should  we  look 
for  clouds  ?— where  it  is  brightest :  where  our  expec- 
tations are  highest.  Our  sharpest  sorrows  rise  out  of 
our  sweetest  comforts.  Rachel  said.  Give  me  chil- 
dren, or  else  I  die  !  and  in  obtaining  what  she  esteem- 
ed her  highest  comfort— what  she  would  have  at  any 
rate — was  hidden  the  cause  of  her  sharpest  grief.  God 
gave  her  children ;  and,  in  bearing  her  second  child, 
if  came  to  pass,  as  her  soul  was  departing,  (for  she 
died,)  that  she  called  his  name  Ben-oni — the  son  of 
my  sorrow. 

Who  is  the  most  miserable  man  on  earth? — and 
whither  shall  we  go  to  seek  him  ?  Not  to  the  tavern  ! 
not  to  the  theatre  !  not  even  to  a  brothel ! — but  to  tiie 
church  !  That  man  who  has  sat  Sabbath  after  Sab- 
bath under  the  awakening  and  affecting  calls  of  the 


APPENDIX. 


gospel,  and  lias  hardened  Iiis  heart  against  tliese  calls 
— HE  is  the  man  wiiose  condition  is  the  most  desperate 
of  all  others.  Woe  unto  thee,  Chorazin  !  woe  unto 
thee,  Bethsnida  ! — and  thou,  Capernanin,  which  art 
exalted  to  heaven,  shall  be  thrust  down  to  hell. 

Give  every  kind  of  knowledge  its  due  attention  and 
respect  :  but  what  science  is  to  be  compared  to  the 
knowledge  of  Christ  crucified  ?  Had  a  traveller  lost  his 
way  in  some  desert,  wliere  he  had  wandered  till  he  was 
fainting  with  hunger  and  thirst,  for  what  would  he  Hrst 
ask  ? — for  music  ? — paintings  ? — No  ! — he  would  ask 
for  bread — for  water  !  Any  thing  else  olTered  him 
w  ould  be  a  mocking  of  his  misery. 

What  an  oppressive  burden  is  taken  off  a  Chris- 
tian's shoulders,  by  his  privilege  of  leaving  all  conse- 
quences, while  in  the  path  of  duty  to  God  !  He  has 
done  with — "  how  shall  1  bear  this  trouble  — "  How 
siiall  /  remove  this  dilHculty  ?" — "  How  shall  I  get 
through  this  deep  water  ?" — but  leaves  himself  in  the 
hands  of  God. 

\^\'e  may  form  some  idea  of  the  joys  of  heaven,  by 
Die  innocent  pleasures  wiiich  God  grants  on  earth. 
Here  is  a  fine  situation,  with  wonderful  prospects —ev- 
ery tiling  to  deligiit  the  senses  :  yet  all  this  we  find  in 
a  world  which  is  under  a  curse  !  what  then  may  we 
not  expect  in  a  heavenly  world,  where  God  exercises 
all  his  power  for  our  blessedness  ? 


However  ill  men  may  treat  us,  we  should  never 
give  them  a  handle  to  say  that  we  misbehaved  our- 


256 


REMAINS  OF  MR,  CECIL. 


selves.  Were  I  to  meet  my  most  bitter  adversary, 
and  know  tliat  he  was  come  with  the  most  malicious 
iiitenlions,  I  should  endeavour  to  be  so  on  my  guard, 
that  he  could  not  lay  his  finger,  with  trutli,  on  any  ])art 
of  my  conduct. 

The  motive  determines  the  quality  of  actions.  One 
man  may  do  a  penurious  act,  because  he  knows  he  shall 
be  put  to  difficulties  if  he  does  not :  and  anotlier  may 
do  the  same  from  mere  avarice.  Tlie  king  of  Edom 
offered  up  his  son  on  the  wall,  and  his  abominable 
cruelty  excited  just  indignation  :  but  Abraham,  having 
in  intention  offered  up  his  son,  is  held  forth  to  all  gener- 
ations for  this  act  as  the  father  of  the  faithful. 


It  is  always  a  sign  of  poverty  of  mind,  where  men  are 
ever  aiming  to  appear  great:  for  they  who  are  really 
great,  never  seem  to  know  it. 

Wh.\t  the  world  calls  the  best  company  is  such  as  a 
pious  mechanic  would  not  condescend  to  keep :  he 
would  ratlier  say,  T//r/i  awai/  inhie  ayes  from  behold- 
in  y  va)iity. 

One  way  of  reading  tlie  Bible  with  advantage  is,  to 
pay  it  great  homage  :  so  that,  when  we  come  to  any 
part  which  we  cannot  connect  witii  other  passages,  we 
nuist  conclude  that  this  arises  from  our  ignorance,  but 
that  the  seeming  contrarieties  are  in  themselves  quite 
reconcilable. 


Young  Christians  on  setting  out  in  life,  often  mistake 
greatly  in  not  sufficiently  attributing  events  to  the  ini- 


APPENDIX. 


257 


mediate  providence  of  God.  They  are  not  reluc  tant, 
at  the  end,  to  acknowledge  tliat  their  way  lias  been  di- 
rected :  but  tliey  do  not  enough  mark  it  as  they  go  on. 
There  is  a  habit  of  saying,  "  Such  a  thing  may  turn 
UP,"  as  if  it  depended  on  chance  ;  whereas  nothing  will 
turn  up,  but  what  was  ordered  long  before.  One  cause 
of  this  evil  is,  that  the  divinity  of  our  day  deals  too  much 
in  common-place  :  certain  fundamental  truths  are  set 
fortli :  and  if  a  man  professes  these  truths,  too  little  ac- 
count is  made  of  the  faith,  dependance,  and  other  graces 
of  a  Christian.  When  a  man  becomes  a  Christian  he  is 
written  upon,  as  it  were,  "  to  be  provided  for  !" — and 
lie  ought,  therefore,  to  notice,  as  he  goes  on,  liow  Provi- 
dence does  provide  for  him. 

Men  mistake  in  nothing  so  much,  as  when  they  re- 
sist their  dispensation ;  for,  while  God  shuttetli  up  a 
man,  there  can  be  no  opening.  Resistance  does  but 
make  the  dispensation  harder  to  be  borne.  Job  says. 
He  teareth  liimself  in  his  anijer  :  hut  sliall  the  rock 
be  removed  because  of  thee  ?  The  man  is,  as  it  were, 
in  a  labyrinth  :  and  the  hand,  which  brought  him  in, 
must  be  the  hand  to  conduct  him  out. 


We  require  the  same  hand  to  protect  us  in  apparent 
safely,  as  in  the  most  imminent  and  palpable  danger. 
One  of  the  most  wicked  men  in  my  neighborhood  was 
riding  near  a  precipice,  and  fell  over :  his  horse  was 
killed,  but  he  escaped  without  injury  :  instead  of  thank- 
ing God  for  his  deliverance,  he  refused  to  acknowledge 
the  hand  of  God  therein  :  but  attributed  his  escape  to 
chance.  Tiie  same  man  was  afterward  riding  on  a  very 
w  2 


258 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL 


smooth  road  :  liis  horse  suddenly  tripped  and  fell,  and 
threw  his  rider  over  his  head,  and  killed  him  on  the  spot, 
while  the  horse  escaped  unhurt. 

If  a  man  is  dead  in  sin,  our  attempting  to  correct  his 
false  notions  is  like  laying  a  dead  man  straight,  who  be- 
fore was  1 J  ing  crooked.  The  man  is  dead,  and  will  re- 
main so ;  though,  before,  he  was  lying  crooked,  and  is 
now  lying  straight.  It  matters  little  what  right  notions 
we  may  have,  while  we  are  dead  in  sin  ;  for  we  shall 
never  act  up  to  them,  till  God  awakens  our  hearts. 


To  have  too  much  forethought,  is  the  part  of  a 
WRETCH  ;  to  have  too  little,  is  tiie  part  of  a  fool. 

Self-will  is  so  ardent  and  active,  that  it  will  break 
a  world  to  pieces,  to  make  a  stool  to  sit  on. 

We  are  too  little  acquainted  ^A  ith  the  sacred  charac- 
ter of  God.  A  certain  man  sold  a  possession,  and 
brought  a  certain  part  of  the  price.  We  should 
have  thought  this  a  generous  act :  but  God  saw  that 
there  wanted  a  right  estimation  of  his  character.  Many 
sins  are  suffered  to  pass,  to  be  punished  hereafter :  but 
God  sometimes  breaks  out,  and  strikes  an  offender  dead 
in  vindication  of  his  own  glory. 

Remember  always  to  mix  good  sense  with  good 
tilings,  or  tliey  will  become  disgusting. 


Things  are  not  to  be  done  by  the  effort  of  the  mo- 
ment, but  by  the  preparation  of  past  moments. 


APPENDIX. 


259 


If  there  is  any  person  (o  wliom  you  feel  dislike  that 
is  the  person  of  whom  you  ought  never  (o  speak. 

Irritability  urges  us  to  take  a  step  as  much  too 
soon,  as  sloth  does  too  late. 

When  we  read  the  Bible  we  must  always  remember, 
that  like  the  holy  waters  seen  by  Ezekiel,  (xlvii.)  it  is  in 
some  places,  up  to  the  ankles  ;  in  others,  up  to  the 
knees ;  in  others,  up  to  the  loins ;  and  in  some  a 
river  too  deep  to  be  fathomed,  and  that  cannot  be  pass- 
ed over.  There  is  light  enough  to  guide  the  humble 
and  teachable  to  heaven,  and  obscurity  enough  to  con- 
lound  the  unbeliever. 

True  religion  as  revealed  in  the  scriptiu-es  may  be 
compared  to  a  plum  on  the  tree,  covered  w  ith  its  bloom. 
Men  gather  the  pluin,  and  handle  it,  and  turn  and  twist 
it  about,  till  it  is  deprived  of  all  its  native  bloom  and 
beauty  :  the  fairest  hand  would  as  much  rob  the  plum 
of  its  bloom,  as  any  other.  Now  all  that  little  party- 
spirit,  which  so  much  prevails  among  men,  and  wliich 
leads  them  to  say,  lam  of  Paul  and  I  of  ApoUos—is, 
but  handling  the  plum  till  it  loses  its  bloom. 

There  are  but  two  classes  of  the  wise  ; — the  men 
who  serve  God  because  they  have  found  hiin :  and  the 
men  who  seek  him,  because  they  have  found  him  not. 
All  others  may  say.  Is  there  not  a  lie  in  my  right 
hand  ? 


Philosophy  is  a  proud,  sullen  detecter  of  the  poverty 
and  misery  of  man.    It  may  turn  him  from  the  world 


260 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


witli  a  pi-n:i;l,  sturdy  conlempt :  hut  il  cannot  come 
forward,  mid  say,  "  Here  are  rest — grace — peace — 
strength — consolation  !" 

We  hear  much  of  a  decent  pride — a  becoming  pride 
— a  NOBLE  pride — a  laudable  pride  !  Can  that  be  de- 
cent, of  wliich  we  ought  to  be  ashamed?— Can  that  be 
BECOMING,  of  which  God  has  set  forth  the  deformity  ? 
—  Can  that  be  noble,  which  God  resists,  and  is  deter- 
mined to  debase? — Can  that  be  laudable,  which  God 
calls  abominable? 

Many  things  are  spoken  of,  in  the  Scriptui-es,  as 
good  :  but  there  is  not  one  thing  emphatically  called 
GOOD,  which  does  not  relate  to  Cluist  or  his  coming. 

Say  the  strongest  tilings  you  can,  witli  candor  and 
kindness,  to  a  man's  face  ;  and  make  the  best  excuse 
you  can  for  him,  with  truth  and  justice,  behind  his  back. 

Many  people  labor  to  make  the  narrow  way  wider. 
They  may  dig  a  path  into  the  broad  way  ;  but  the  way 
to  life  nmst  remain  a  narrow  way  to  the  end. 

All  extremes  are  error.  The  reverse  of  error  is  not 
truth,  but  error.    Truth  lies  between  tiiese  extremes. 

I  HAVE  no  doubt,  but  that  there  are  perl?)ns  of  every 
description,  under  e\  ery  possible  circumstance,  in  ev- 
ery lawful  calhng,  among  Cliristians,  wlio  will  go  to 
heaven— tiiat  all  the  \\orld  may  see,  that  neitlier  their 
circumstances  nor  calling  ]nevented  their  being  among 
the  number  of  the  blessed. 


APPENDIX. 


261 


Gon  lias  given  us  four  books  : — tlie  Rook  of  Grace  ; 
tlie  Book  of  Nature  ;  the  Book  of  the  Workl ;  and  tlie 
Book  of  Providence.  Every  occurrence  is  a  leaf  in  one 
of  these  books  :  it  does  not  become  us  to  be  negligent 
in  the  use  of  any  of  them. 

Eloquence  is  vehement  simplicity. 

God  is  omniscient  as  well  as  omnipotent ;  and  om- 
niscience may  see  reason  to  withhold  what  omnipotence 
could  bestow. 

Attend  to  the  presence  of  God :  this  will  dignify 
a  small  congregation,  and  annihilate  a  large  one. 

Having  some  business  to  transact  with  a  gentleman 
in  the  city,  I  called  one  day  at  his  counting  house  :  he 
begged  I  would  call  again,  as  I  li^d  so  much  more  time 
to  spare  than  he  had,  who  was  a  man  of  business. — 
"An  hour  is  nothing  to  you,"  said  he — "An  hour  nothing 
to  a  clergyman  !"  said  I :  "you  seem  little  to  understand 
the  nature  of  our  profession.  One  hour  of  a  clergy- 
man's time  rightly  employed.  Sir,  is  worth  more  to  him 
than  all  the  gains  of  your  merchandize." 

If  a  man  has  a  quarrelsome  temper,  let  him  alone. 
The  world  will  soon  find  him  employment.  lie  will 
soon  meet  with  some  one  stronger  than  himself,  who 
will  repay  him  better  than  you  can.  A  man  may  fight 
duels  all  his  life,  if  he  is  disposed  to  quarrel. 

One  day  I  got  off  ray  horse  to  kill  a  rat,  Avliich  1 
found  on  the  road  only  half  killed.    I  am  shocked  at 


262 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


tlie  tliouglitless  cruelty  of  many  people,  yet  I  did  a  thing 
.soon  after,  that  has  given  me  considerable  uneasiness, 
and  for  wliich  I  reproach  myself  bitterly.  As  I  was 
riding  homeward,  I  saw  a  wagon  standing  at  a  door, 
with  three  horses  :  the  two  foremost  were  eating  tlieir 
corn  from  bags  at  their  noses  ;  but  I  observ  ed  the  tliird 
had  dropped  his  on  the  ground,  and  could  not  stoop  to 
get  any  food.  However  I  rode  on,  in  absence,  without 
assisting  him.  But  when  I  had  got  nearly  home,  I  re- 
membered what  I  had  observed  in  my  absence  of  mind, 
and  felt  extremely  hurt  at  my  neglect ;  and  would  have 
ridden  back  had  I  not  thought  the  wagoner  might  have 
come  out  of  the  house  and  relieved  the  horse.  A  man 
could  not  have  had  a  better  demand  for  getting  oft'  his 
horse,  than  for  such  an  act  of  humanity.  It  is  by  ab- 
sence of  mind  tliat  we  omit  many  duties. 

A  WICKED  man  is  a  candidate  for  nothing  but  hell  ! 
However  he  may  live,  if  his  conscience  were  awake,  he 
would  turn  pale  at  this  question  :  What  shall  I  do  m 
the  end  thereof? 

There  is  a  great  defect  in  Gray's  Elegy.  You  can- 
not read  it  witliout  feeling  a  melancholy  :  there  is  no 
sunshine — no  hope  after  death  :  it  shows  the  dark  side 
only  of  mortality.  But  a  man  refined  as  be  was,  and 
speculating  on  the  bankruptcy  of  human  nature,  if  be 
brought  not  evangelical  views  into  the  estimate,  coild 
describe  human  nature  only  as  hopeless  and  forlorn  : 
whereas,  what  he  felt  a  subject  of  melancholy,  is  with 
me  included  in  the  calculation.  I  know  it  must  be  so, 
4nd,  according  to  my  views,  should  be  disappointed  if 


APPENDIX. 


263 


it  were  not  so — Mij  kbigdom,  said  our  Lord,  is  not  of 
this  world. 

Revelation  never  staggers  me.  There  niaj^  be  a 
tertiu'm  quid,  though  we  are  not  yet  in  possession  of  it, 
wliich  would  put  an  end  to  all  our  present  doubts  and 
questions.  I  was  one  day  riding  with  a  friend  :  we 
were  discussing  a  subject,  and  I  expressed  myself  sur- 
prised that  such  a  measure  was  not  adopted.  "  If  I 
were  to  tell  you  one  thing,"  said  he,  it  would  make  all 
clear."  I  gave  him  credit  that  there  did  exist  some- 
thing, which  would  entirely  dispel  my  objections.  Now 
if  this  be  the  case  in  many  instances,  between  man  and 
man,  is  it  an  unreasonable  conclusion,  that  all  the  unac- 
countable points,  wliich  we  may  observe  in  the  provi- 
dence and  government  of  God,  should  be  all  perfection 
in  the  Divine  mind  ?  Take  the  growth  of  a  seed — I 
cannot  pos.sibly  say  what  first  produces  progress  of 
growth  in  the  grain.  Take  voluntary  motion — I  can- 
not possibly  say  where  action  begins  and  thouglit  ends. 
Tlie  proportion  between  a  fly's  mind  and  a  man's  is  no 
adequate  illustration  of  the  state  of  man  with  respect  to 
God  ;  because  there  is  some  proportion  between  the 
minds  or  faculties  of  two  finite  creatures,  but  there  can 
be  none  between  finite  man  and  the  infinite  God. 

One  little  preacher  will  endeavor  to  prove,  with  a 
great  deal  of  warmth,  the  truth  of  Calviiiistic  principles  : 
and  another  little  preacher  will  clearly  demonstrate  the 
truth  of  the  Arminian  scheme.  Good  sense  will  go  be- 
tween tiiem,  and  say,  "  There  are  certain  things  writ- 
ten on  these  subjects — Thus  saith  the  Lord  good 


264 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


sense  will  hesitate  to  push  what  is  said  to  all  its  ap- 
parent conclusions,  {or— It  is  written  again.  Here 
ends  all  dogmatism  with  a  wise  man. 

A  MOUSE  that  had  lived  all  his  life  in  a  chest,  says 
the  fable,  chanced  one  day  to  creep  up  to  the  edge,  and, 
peeping  out,  exclaimed  with  wonder — "  I  did  not  think 
the  world  was  so  large." 

The  first  step  to  knowledge,  is  to  know  that  we  are 
ignorant.  It  is  a  great  point  to  know  our  place  :  for 
want  of  tliis,  a  man  in  private  life,  instead  of  attend- 
ing to  the  affairs  in  his  "  chest,"  is  ever  peeping  out, 
and  then  he  becomes  a  philosopher  !  he  must  then 
know  every  thing,  and  presumptuously  pry  into  the 
deep  and  secret  councils  of  God — not  considering  that 
man  is  finite,  and  has  no  faculties  to  comprehend  and 
judge  of  the  great  scheme  of  things.  We  can  form  no 
otiier  idea  of  tlie  dispensations  of  God,  nor  can  have 
any  knowledge  of  spiritual  things,  except  what  God 
has  taugiit  us  in  his  word  ;  and,  where  he  stop.s,  we 
must  stop.  He  has  not  told  us  why  he  permitted  the 
angels  to  fall — why  he  created  Adam— why  he  suffered 
sin  to  enter  into  the  world — why  Christ  came  in  tiie 
latter  ages — when  he  will  come  to  judgment — what 
A\  ill  be  tlie  doom  of  the  Heathen  nations — nor  wlij'  our 
state  throughout  eteniitjf  \\as  made  to  depend  on  such  a 
moment  as  man's  life  :  all  tliese  are  secrets  of  his  coun- 
cil. Where  wast  thou  when  I  laid  the  foundations 
of  the  earth  ?  God  urges  it  on  us  again  and  again, 
that  sin  has  entered — and  that  we  must  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  come.  Christ,  in  the  days  of  liis  flesh,  never 
gratified  curiosity  :  lie  answered  every  inquiry  accord- 


APPENDIX. 


265 


ing  to  the  spirit  of  the  inquirer,  not  according  to  the 
letter  of  the  inquiry  :  if  any  man  came  in  humility  for 
instruction,  he  always  instructed  ;  but,  when  any  came 
to  gratify  a  vain  curiosity,  he  answered,  as  when  one 
said.  Lord,  are  there  few  that  be  saved  ? — strive  to 
ENTER  IN  AT  THE  STRAIT  GATE  ! — or,  as  when  another 
inquired.  Lord,  and  what  shall  this  man  do  !—  What 
is  that  to  thee  ?    Follow  thou  me  ! 

We  are  too  ready  to  say  in  trouble.  All  these  things 
are  against  me  !  but  a  Christian  should  say,  "  This  or 
that  may  seem  against  me  ;  but  tliere  is  mercy  for  me  : 
there  is  a  Saviour  :  there  is  God's  word  :  and  there  are 
his  ordinances."  He  should  be  more  careful  to  enu- 
merate what  is  FOR  him,  than  what  is  against  him.  He 
should  look  over  the  list  of  his  spiritual  and  temporal 
mercies,  as  well  as  that  of  his  sorrows  ;  and  remember 
that  what  things  are  against  him  are  so  on  account  of 
his  sin.  Om-  pilgrimage  is  but  short :— let  us  make 
use  of  our  helps  and  means.  God  has  given  us  a  guide, 
and  a  support  to  lean  on  :  when  the  clouds  gather,  we 
have  only  to  look  to  Jesus.  We  are  not  to  expect  the 
joys  of  heaven  while  on  earth  : — let  us  be  content  that 
there  is  a  highway  for  us  to  walk  in,  and  a  leader  to 
conduct  us  in  that  way. 

It  is  a  Christian's  business,  as  much  as  possible,  con- 
sistently with  his  duty,  to  lessen  his  cares  and  occupa- 
tions in  the  world.  It  is  very  common  to  hear  Cliris- 
tians  complain  what  a  liinderance  business  is,  while 
they  are,  perhaps,  at  the  very  time,  too  anxious  to  in- 
crease it !  There  is  some  fallacy,  too,  in  the  complaint : 

X 


266 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


for,  where  there  is  a  principle  of  grace,  it  will  prevail 
even  in  a  multitude  of  engagements.  There  is  much 
dilference  between  seeking  busy  situations,  and  being 
FOUND  in  them. 

What  we  call  "  taking  steps  in  life,"  are  most  seri- 
ous occurrences  ; — especially  if  there  be,  in  the  motive, 
any  mixture  of  ambilion.  Wherefore  gaddest  thou 
about  to  change  thy  ivay  ? 

The  dispensation  of  grace  to  some,  is  little  more  than 
a  continual  combat  with  corruptions :  so  that,  instead 
of  advancing,  a  man  seems  to  be  but  just  able  to  pre- 
serve himself  from  sinking.  A  boat,  with  the  tide  full 
against  it,  does  well  if  it  can  keep  from  driving  back, 
and  must  have  strong  force  indeed  to  get  forward.  We 
must  estimate  grace  by  the  opposition  which  it  meets 
with. 

How  blessed  is  the  Christian,  in  the  midst  of  his 
greatest  troubles  !  It  is  true  we  cannot  say  he  is  perfect 
in  holiness — tiiat  he  has  never  any  doubts — that  liis 
peace  of  mind  is  never  interrupted — that  he  never  mis- 
takes providence  :  but,  after  all,  his  is  a  blessed  condi- 
tion ;  for  he  is  supported  under  his  trials,  and  instructed 
by  the  discipline  :  and,  as  to  his  fears,  the  evil  under  the 
apprehension  of  wliich  he  is  ready  to  sink,  frequently 
does  not  come — or  it  does  not  continue — or  it  is  turned 
into  a  blessing. 

One  of  the  greatest  impositions  of  Satan  on  the  mind, 
is  that  of  quieting  a  man  in  the  pursuit  or  possession  of 
what  is  lawful.   So  that  if  it  is  not  murder,  or  adultery. 


APPENDIX. 


267 


or  theft,  which  he  is  committing,  all  is  well !  Because 
a  man's  bed  is  his  own,  he  may  idle  away  in  it  his  ines- 
timable time  !  Because  his  business  is  lawful,  a  man 
may  intoxicate  his  mind  with  the  pursuit  of  it '. 

The  very  heart  and  root  of  sin,  is  an  independent 
spirit.  We  erect  (he  idol  self  ;  and  not  only  wish  oth- 
ers to  worship,  but  worship  it  ourselves. 

We  must  take  care  when  we  draw  parallel  cases,  not 
to  take  such  as  are  not  or  cannot  be  made  parallel.  For 
instance — we  may  ask,  before  we  act,  "  What  Avould 
Jesus  Christ  do  in  tliis  case  ?  or  what  would  St.  Paul  ?" 
but  we  cannot  be  guided  by  this  rule  in  every  thing, 
because  Christ's  mission  was  peculiar :  it  was  an  un- 
paralleled event :  it  was  for  three  years  only :  and  like 
a  great  fire,  he  was  always  burning — always  intent  on 
one  point.  St.  Paul  also  was  in  peculiar  circumstances: 
he  was  sent  on  an  especial  errand.  In  every  thing 
which  is  in  any  degree  sinful,  we  should  turn  to  these 
examples  ;  but,  in  tlie  conduct  peculiar  to  our  station, 
our  application  of  these  examples  must  be  governed  by 
circumstances. 

Many  inexperienced  Christians  are  apt  to  look  for 
wrong  kinds  of  evidences,  and  so  distress  themselves 
about  their  state.  The  questions  which  we  should  put 
to  ourselves,  in  seeking  the  best  evidences,  are — "  Do  I 
hate  sin  ! — Is  it  my  grand  fear  ? — Is  it  my  grief,  that, 
while  I  have  a  good  hope  of  pardon,  I  yet  should  make 
such  ill  returns  ?  Have  I  brokenness  of  spirit  ?" — God- 
liness is  analogous  to  the  principle  of  gravitation,  in  that 
it  reduces  every  thing  to  its  proper  centre. 


268 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


The  difference  between  what  is  called  fate,  and  pp  / 
DESTINATION,  is  Something  like  tliat  of  a  house  withan  i 
a  governor,  and  a  liouse,  with  a  governor.  The  Fw 
talist  says,  "  Every  thing  must,  of  necessity,  be  as  it  '*< 
— as  a  stone  must  fall  to  the  ground,  fire  must  ascen  4 
&c.  The  Predestinarian  says,  that  every  thing  is  di 
termined  by  a  wise  Governor,  who  inspects,  orders, 
and  superintends  the  whole  macliine  ;  so  that  a  sparrow 
does  not  fall  to  the  ground,  or  a  hair  of  the  head  perish, 
without  permission. 

We  are  so  accustomed  to  see  sin  within  and  with- 
out us,  that  we  seldom  deeply  feel  it,  or  are  so  shocked 
at  it,  as  we  siiould  be  were  it  less  frequent.  If  an  in- 
habitant of  the  court  were  to  walk  through  some  of  the 
filthy  streets  and  alleys  of  the  metropoUs,  how  would  he 
be  disgusted  and  terrified  !  while  the  poor  wretches, 
who  live  in  them,  think  nothing  of  the  matter.  Thus  a 
clearer  view  of  sin  and  of  tlie  holiness  of  God,  made  the 
prophet  cry  out.  Wo  is  me  !  for  I  am  undone  ;  he- 
cause  I  am  a  man  of  unclean  lips,  and  I  dwell  in 
the  midst  of  a  people  of  unclean  lips  :  for  mine  eyes 
have  seeji  the  King,  the  Lord  of  Hosts. 

It  is  much  easier  to  settle  a  point,  than  to  act  on  it, 

I  once  said  to  myself,  in  the  foolishness  ofray  lieart, 
*'  What  sort  of  sermon  must  that  have  been  which  was 
preached  by  St.  Peter,  when  tlu-ee  thousand  souls  were 
converted  at  once  ?" — What  sort  of  sermon  ! — such  as 
other  sermons.  There  is  nothing  to  be  found  in  it  ex- 
traordinary. The  effect  was  not  produced  by  St.  Pe- 
ter's eloquence  :  but  by  the  mighty  power  of  God,  pre- 


APPENDIX. 


269 


sent  with  liis  word.  It  is  in  vain  to  attend  one  minis 
ter  after  another,  and  to  liear  sermon  after  sermon,  un 
less  we  pray  that  the  Holy  Spirit  accompany  his  word. 
Neither  is  he  that  planteth  any  thing,  neither  he 
that  ivatereth  ;  but  God  that  giveth  the  increase. 

That  humility  which  courts  notice^  is  not  first-rate. 
It  may  be  sincere,  but  it  is  sullied.  Do  not  sound  a 
trumpet,  nor  say,  "  Come  and  see  how  humble  I  am !" 

We  should  be  careful  never  to  discourage  any  one 
who  is  searching  after  God.  If  a  man  begins  in  earnest 
to  feel  after  him  if  haply  he  may  find  him,  let  us  be- 
ware how  we  may  stop  him,  by  rashly  telling  him  he 
is  not  seeking  in  the  right  way.  This  would  be  like 
setting  fire  to  the  first  round  of  the  ladder,  by  which  one 
was  attempting  to  escape.  We  must  wait  for  a  fit 
season  to  communicate  light.  Had  any  one  told  me, 
when  I  first  began  to  think  religiously,  that  I  was  not 
seeking  God  in  the  right  way,  I  might  have  been  dis- 
couraged from  seeking  him  at  all.  I  was  much  indebt- 
ed to  my  mother,  for  her  truly  wise  and  judicious 
conduct  toward  me  when  I  first  turned  from  my  vanity 
and  sin. 

We  should  always  record  our  thoughts  in  affliction 
— set  up  way-marks — set  up  our  Bethels — erect  our 
Ebenezers  ;  that  we  may  recur  to  them  in  healtli ;  for 
then  we  are  in  other  circumstances,  and  can  never  re- 
cover our  sick-bed  views. 

A  contemplative  life  has  more  the  appearance  of  a 
life  of  piety  than  any  other  :  but  it  is  the  divine  plan  to 
x2 


270 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


bring  faith  into  activity  and  exercise.  We  choose 
that  sort  of  walk  which  we  like  best :  if  we  love  quiet, 
we  are  for  sedentary  piety  ;  but  the  design  of  God  is  to 
root  us  out  of  every  tiling,  and  bring  us  into  more  use- 
ful stations. 

A  wretched  prisoner,  chained  to  the  floor  for  a 
length  of  time,  would  deem  it  a  high  privilege  to  be 
allowed  to  walk  across  the  room.  Anotlier,  confined 
to  lie  on  his  back  till  it  had  become  sore,  would  tliink 
it  a  great  favor  if  he  might  be  permitted  to  turn  on  his 
side  for  a  few  minutes.  In  a  course  of  habitual  pain, 
I  am  thankful  for  five  minutes'  freedom  from  suffering  : 
how  forgetful  have  I  been  of  fifty  years  of  tolerable 
ease  !  How  unmindful  are  we  of  what  we  call  com- 
mon mercies  ! 

In  order  to  read  the  Bible  with  profit,  we  must  be- 
gin by  denying  ourselves  every  step  of  the  way  :  for, 
every  step  of  the  way,  it  will  be  found  to  oppose  our 
corrupt  nature. 

Christians  resemble  travellers  in  a  stage-coach. 
We  are  full  of  our  plans  and  schemes,  but  the  coach  is 
moving  rapidly  forward  :  it  passes  one  mile-stone,  and 
then  another  ;  and  no  regard  is  paid  to  the  plots  and 
plans  of  the  passengers. 

A  Christian  has  advanced  but  a  little  way  in  reli- 
gion when  he  has  overcome  the  love  of  the  world :  for 
he  has  still  more  powerful  and  importunate  enemies  : 
self — evil  tempers — pride — undue  affections — a  stub- 
born will it  is  by  the  subduing  of  these  adversaries. 


APPENDIX. 


271 


that  we  must  chiefly  judge  of  our  growth  in  grace. 

A  FRIEND  called  on  me  when  I  was  ill,  to  settle  some 
business.  My  head  was  too  much  confused  by  my  in- 
disposition to  understand  fully  what  he  said  ;  but  I  had 
such  unlimited  confidence  in  him,  that  I  did  whatever  he 
bid  me,  in  the  fullest  assurance  that  it  was  right.  How 
simply  I  can  trust  in  man,  and  how  little  in  God  ! 
How  unreasonable  is  a  pure  act  of  faith  in  one  like 
ourselves,  if  we  cannot  repose  the  same  faith  in  God  ! 


Some  negative  rules,  given  to  a  Young  Minister  go- 
ing into  a  situation  of  peculiar  difficulty. 

As  I  know  you  have  received  much  good  advice,  I 
would  suggest  to  you  a  few  hints  of  a  negative  kind  ; 
with  a  view  of  admonishing  you  to  be  careful,  while  you 
are  doing  your  work,  not  by  any  mistakes  of  your  own 
to  hinder  your  success — 

I.  By  forgetting  that  your  success  with  others  is 
very  much  connected  with  your  personal  character. 

Herod  heard  John  gladly,  and  he  did  many  things; 
because  he  knew  the  preacher  to  be  a  just  and  holy 
man.  Words  uttered  from  the  heart  find  their  way  to 
the  heart,  by  a  holy  sympathy.  Character  is  power : — 
"  A  good  man  seen,  though  silent,  counsel  gives." 

If  you  would  make  deep  impression  on  others,  you 
must  use  all  means  to  have  them  first  formed  on  your 
own  mind.  Avoid,  at  the  same  time,  all  appearances 
of  evil — as  a  covetous  or  worldly,  a  vain  or  assuming, 
careless  or  indevout  deportment.    Never  suffer  jesting 


272 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


with  sacred  persons  or  things.  Satan  will  employ  such 
antidotes  as  these,  to  counteract  the  operation  of  that 
which  is  effective  and  gracious  in  a  minister's  character. 

II.  By  placing  your  dependence  on  any  means, 
qualities,  or  circumstances,  however  excellent  in 
themselves. 

Tlie  direct  way  to  render  a  thing  weak,  is  to  lean  on 
it  as  strong.  God  is  a  jealous  God  ;  and  will  utter- 
ly abolish  idols  as  a  means  of  success.  He  designs  to 
demonstrate  that  men  and  creatures  are  what  he  makes 
them,  and  that  only.  This  also  should  be  your  en- 
couragement : — looking,  in  the  diligent  and  humble  use 
of  means,  to  that  Spirit  of  life  and  power  without 
whose  influence  all  your  endeavors  will  be  to  no  pur- 
pose, you  have  reason  to  expect  help  suited  and  ade- 
quate to  all  your  difficulties. 

III.  By  unnecessarily  appearing  in  dangerous  or 
improper  situations. 

It  is  one  thing  to  be  humble  and  condescending  :  it 
is  another  to  render  yourself  common,  cheap,  and  con- 
temptible. The  men  of  the  world  know  when  a  minis- 
ter is  out  of  his  place — when  they  can  oppress  him  by 
numbers  or  circumstances — when  they  can  make  him 
laugh,  while  liis  office  frowns.  Well  wnll  it  be  for  him, 
if  he  is  only  rendered  absurd  in  his  future  pubhc  admo- 
nitions, by  his  former  compliances  ;  well  if,  being  found 
like  St.  Peter  on  dangerous  ground,  he  is  not  seduced, 
virtually  at  least,  to  deny  his  blaster. 

IV.  By  suspicious  appearances  in  his  family. 
As  the  head  of  your  household  you  are  responsible 

for  its  appearances.  Its  pride,  sloth,  and  disorder  will 
be  yours.   You  are  accountable  for  your  wife's  conduct 


APPENDIX. 


273 


dress,  and  manners,  as  well  as  those  of  your  children, 
whose  education  must  be  peculiarly  exemplary.  Your 
family  is  to  be  a  picture  of  what  you  wish  other  families 
lo  be  :  and,  without  the  most  determined  resolution,  in 
reliance  on  God,  to  finish  this  picture  cost  what  it 
WILL,  your  recommending  family  religion  to  others  will 
but  create  a  smile.  Your  unfriendly  hearers  will  recol- 
lect enough  of  Scripture  to  tell  you  that  you  ought,  like 
the  primitive  Bishop,  to  be  one,  that  ruleth  well  his 
own  house,  having  his  children  in  subjection  with  all 
gravity  :  for  if  a  man  know  not  how  to  rule  his  own 
house,  how  shall  he  take  care  of  the  church  of  God  ? 

V  By  meddling  beyond  your  sphere  in  tem- 
porals. 

Your  aim  and  conversation,  like  your  sacred  call, 
are  to  be  altogether  heavenly.  As  a  man  of  God,  you 
have  no  concern  with  politics  and  parties  and  schemes 
of  interest,  but  you  are  to  live  above  them.  There  is  a 
sublime  spirit  in  a  devoted  minister,  which,  as  one 
says  of  Christianity  itself,  pays  no  more  regard  to  these 
tilings,  than  to  the  battles  of  rooks,  the  industry  of  ants, 
or  the  policy  of  bees. 

VI.  By  venturing  off  general  and  acknowledged 
ground  in  spirituals. 

By  giving  strong  meat  instead  oimilk,  to  those  who 
are  yet  but  babes— by  giving  heed  to  fables,  which 
minister  -questions  rather  than  godly  edifying; 
anmsing  the  mind,  but  not  affecting  the  heart :  often 
disturbing  and  bewildering,  seldom  convincing  ;  fre- 
quently raising  a  smile,  never  drawing  a  tear. 

VII.  By  maintaining  acknowledged  truth  in  your 
own  spirit. 


274 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


Both  food  and  medicines  are  injurious,  if  administer- 
ed scalding  hot.  The  spirit  of  a  teacher  often  affects 
more  than  his  matter.  Benevolence  is  a  universal  lan- 
guage ;  and  it  will  apologize  for  a  multitude  of  defects 
in  the  man  who  speaks  it ;  while  neitlier  talents  nor 
truth  will  apologize  for  pride,  illiberality,  or  bitterness. 
Avoid,  therefore,  irritating  occasions  and  persons,  par- 
ticularly disputes  and  disputants,  by  which  a  minister 
often  loses  his  temper  and  his  character. 

VIII.  By  being  too  sharp-sighted,  too  quick-ear- 
ed, or  too  ready-tongued. 

Some  evils  are  irremediable :  they  are  best  neither 
seen  nor  heard  :  by  seeing  and  hearing  things  which 
you  cannot  remove,  you  will  create  implacable  adver- 
saries ;  who,  being  guilty  aggressors,  never  forgive. 
Avoid  SPEAKING  meanly  or  harslily  of  any  one  :  not  on- 
ly because  this  is  forbidden  to  Christians,  but  because 
it  is  to  declare  war  as  by  a  thousand  heralds. 

IX.  By  the  temptations  arising  from  the  female 
sex. 

I  need  not  mention  what  havoc  Satan  has  made  in 
the  church,  by  this  means,  from  the  fall  to  this  day. 
Vour  safety,  when  in  danger  from  this  quarter,  lies  in 
flight — to  parley  is  to  fall.  Take  the  tirst  hint  from 
conscience,  or  from  friends. 

In  line.  Watch  thou  in  all  things  :  endure  afflic- 
tions :  do  the  work  of  an  evangelist :  make  full 
jiroof  of  thy  ministry  :  and  then,  whether  those  around 
you  acknowledge  your  real  character  or  not  now,  they 
shall  one  day  know  that  there  hath  been  a  prophet 
among  them ! 


APPENDIX. 


275 


FRAGMENT. 

A  Dying  Minister's  Farewell. 
When  a  Christian  minister  feels  the  springs  of  life 
giving  A\  ay  ; — his  faculties  decaying — his  voice  failing 
— }iis  spirit  sinking — tiiough  he  may  not  have  it  in  his 
power  to  say,  as  the  apostle  did  to  his  friends,  I  know 
that  ye  all,  among  whom  I  have  preached  the  king- 
dom of  God,  shall  see  my  face  no  more — yet  he  should 
stand  ready  to  part  with  his  flock,  and  every  sermon 
should  be  felt  by  him  as  if  it  were  his  last. 

Wherefore  I  take  you  to  record  this  day,  that  I 
am  jmre  from  the  bluod  of  all  men  :  for  I  have  not 
shunned  to  declare  unto  you  all  the  counsel  of  god. 
And  what  have  I  declared  that  counsel  of  God  to  be  ? — 
All  the  curious  distinctions  of  the  schools  ? — All  the  pe- 
culiarities insisted  on  so  strongly  by  different  sects  ? — 
No  such  thing!  I  have  followed  the  great  apostle  in 
testifying  repentance  toward  God  and  faith  to- 
ward our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

There  has  been  a  slander  brought  against  religion — 
that  we  are  not  agreed,  as  to  the  truths  we  set  before 
men.  I  say,  it  is  false  !  We  are  agreed.  All,  who 
know  and  think  any  thing  of  real  religion,  are  agreed, 
that  the  substance  of  the  matter  is  contained  in  repent- 
ance toward  God,  and  faith  toward  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

If  a  man,  like  the  prodigal,  feels  that  he  has  left  his 
father's  house — turned  his  back  on  God — and  is  be- 
come a  fool  and  a  madman  for  so  doing — and  that  there 
is  no  hope  but  in  his  returning  again  :  if  such  a  change 
of  mind  is  wrought  in  him  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  he 


276 


REMAINS  OF  MR.  CECIL. 


wrought  in  David,  wlien  he  cried.  Wash  me  thoroiicjhj 
from  my  iniquity,  and  cleanse  me  from  my  sin  :  it', 
liiie  Peter,  he  goes  forth  weeping  bitterly — feeUng  tliat 
fiehas  acted  foohshly  and  wickedly,  and  that  his  only 
hope  is  in  the  mercy  of  God  through  the  Saviour — then 
the  man  enters  so  far  into  the  spirit  of  religion — repen- 
tance toward  God. 

But  does  he  rest  in  this  ?  Nay,  he  knows  that  if  he 
could  offer  thousands  of  rams,  and  ten  thousands  of 
rivers  of  oil,  he  could  make  no  satisfaction  for  the  sin 
of  his  soul.  He  looks  to  the  atonement ! —to  Hi?n, 
whom  God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation 
through  faith  in  his  blood. 

Repentance  toward  God  must  be  accompanied  by 
faith  tovxird  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

He  came  unto  his  own,  and  his  own  received  him 
not.  But  as  many  as  received  him,  to  them  gave  he 
power  to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them  that 
believe  on  his  natne  :  which  were  born  not  of  blood, 
nor  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man, 
but  of  God.  These  men  ai-e  enabled  to  say  with  St. 
Paul,  "  /  count  all  things  but  loss  for  the  excellency 
of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.  I  have 
no  refuge  but  in  him — no  other  hope — no  other  plea. 
All  my  confidence  before  God  is  grounded  on  this — that 
He  suffered,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he  might 
bring  us  to  God.'" 

If  a  minister  testifies  these  things — if  he  speaks  plain- 
ly and  simply  these  grand  essential  truths  of  God's 
word — though  he  die  before  another  Sabbath  return, 
HE  MAY  REST  IN  PEACE — leaving  the  issue  in  God's  hand. 

The  ground  of  a  minister's  own  solid  satisfaction  can- 


APPENDIX. 


277 


not  be  POPULARITY  :  for  even  to  Simon  Magus  all  gave 
heed,  from  the  least  to  the  greatest,  saying.  This 
man  is  the  great  power  of  God ! — neitlier  can  he 
ground  his  satisfaction  on  the  exercise  of  strong  and  en- 
larged TALENTS  :  for  even  Balaam  was  a  man  of  extra- 
ordinary endowments — nor  can  it  be  on  his  success  : — 
for  many,  saith  our  Lord,  shall  come  to  me,  and  say, 
Have  we  not  done  many  wonderful  works  in  thy 
name,  and  in  thy  name  cast  out  devils  ?  Then  ivill 
I  profess  unto  them,  I  never  kneiv  you  !  As  though 
he  had  said,  "  I  deny  not  tlie  works,  but  ye  are  evil 
men  !" 

But  a  minister's  satisfaction  must  be  grounded  on 
the  faithful  discharge  of  his  ollice  in  the  delivery  of 
HIS  MESSAGE.  A  PHncc  scnds  a  special  messenger  to 
his  rebellious  subjects,  with  offers  of  pardon  :  in  ex- 
amining his  conduct,  he  will  not  inquire  whether  tliey 
received  and  approved  him  or  not :  the  question  will 
be — "  Did  you  deliver  my  message  ?  did  you  deliver  it 
as  one  that  believed  it  yourself?  as  one  in  earnest?" 
If  a  man  sliould  come  and  tell  you,  with  a  cheerful  coun- 
tenance and  careless  air,  that  your  house  was  on  lire, 
and  tiiat  you  and  your  children  would  be  burnt  in  the 
flames  if  you  did  not  make  haste  to  escape,  you  would 
not  believe  liim.  You  would  say,  "  He  does  not  believe 
it  himself,  or  he  would  not  be  so  unfeeling  as  to  speak 
of  it  in  such  a  manner." 

If  a  minister  delivers  liis  message,  then  no  scorn,  no 
reproach  that  may  be  cast  upon  him,  can  take  away  his 
rest — he  has  done  his  duty.  When  the  king  sent  out 
his  servants  to  invite  men  to  his  feast,  they  excused 
themselves  on  various  pretences  :  but  the  servant  might 

Y 


278 


REMAINS  Of  MR.  CECIL. 


say,  "  No  mailer  ! — I  have  declared  the  message — I 
may  rest  in  having  done  my  part,  though  no  success 
seems  to  attend  my  pressing  invitations." 

I  would  lodge,  therefore,  my  appeal  in  your  con- 
sciences— /  take  YOU  to  record— I  appeal  to  con- 
science :  for  there  is  a  conscience  in  man  ;  and,  in  se- 
rious moments  it  will  speak  out.  It  wrung  from  Jos- 
eph's brethren  that  confession,  We  are  verily  guilty 
concerning  our  brother  !  It  forced  Balaam  himself  to 
cry  out.  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous !  and 
let  my  last  end  be  like  his !  It  tormented  the  traitor 
Judas  into  that  self-accusation,  I /^«t•e  sinnedin  that  1 
have  betrayed  the  innocent  blood! 

When  a  young  person  has  been  talked  to  by  his  pa- 
rents— when  they  have  represented  to  him  the  misery 
and  ruin  of  a  wicked  course,  and  of  bad  habits — he 
might  affect  to  brave  it  out  at  the  time  ;  but  he  has 
gone  afterward  weeping  through  the  streets — because 

CONSCIENCE  WOULD  SPE.\K. 

But  when  tlie  Spirit  of  God  softens  a  man's  heart — 
w  hen  he  is  made  to  feel  ivhat  an  evil  and  bitter 
th  'ng  it  is  to  sin  against  God — then  a  faithful  min- 
ister's appeal  to  that  man  is  like  that  of  St.  Paul  to  the 
Tliessalonians  :  Ye  are  witnesses,  and  God  also,  how 
holily,  and  justly,  and  unblameably  we  behaved 
ourselves  among  you  that  believe.  As  you  know 
how  we  exhorted,  and  comforted,  and  charged  ev- 
ery one  of  you  (as  a  father  doth  his  children),  that 
ye  it  ould  walk  worthy  of  God,  who  hath  called  you 
unto  his  kingdom  and  glory.  For  this  cause  also 
thank  we  God  without  ceasing,  because,  when  ye 
received  the  word  of  God  which  ye  heard  of  us,  ye 


APPENDIX. 


279 


received  it  not  as  the  tvord  of  men,  but,  fas  it  is  in 
truth  J  the  word  of  God,  which  eJfectnaUy  worketh 
also  in  you  that  believe.    1  Tliess.  ii.  10 — 13. 

It  is  most  affecting  to  see  to  what  miserable  shifts 
men  will  have  recourse,  in  order  to  evade  the  truth. 

"  It  is  IRRATIONAL,"  says  one,  "  to  insist  so  much  on 
certain  peculiarities  of  doctrine  !" — But  whose  reason 
shall  be  the  judge  ? — For  the  preaching  of  the  cross 
is  to  them  that  perish  foolishness  :  but.  It  is  written 
I  will  destroy  the  wisdom  of  the  wise,  and  will 
bring  to  nothing  the  understanding  of  the  jjrudent. 

"It  is  UNNECESSARY,"  sa) s  another — But  has  God 
commanded  ;  and  do  we  pronounce  his  commands 
unnecessary  ? 

"  It  is  disreputable" — Did  Christ  regard  reputa- 
tion ? — Nay,  he  made  himself  of  no  reputation. 

"  It  is  a  NARROW  way — Ah  !  there,  indeed,  you  pro- 
nounce truly  !  The  way  of  heaven  is  a  narrow  way  ! 
But  what  says  the  judge  ?  Wide  is  the  gate,  and 
broad  is  the  way  that  leadeth  to  destruction,  and 
many  there  be  which  go  in  thereat ;  because  strait 
is  the  gate,  and  narrow  is  the  way  which  leadeth 
unto  life,  and  few  there  be  that  find  it. 

Oh  how  distres.sing  is  it  to  observe  manj%  to  whom 
Ave  cannot  but  fear,  the  Gospel  which  they  hear  preach- 
ed from  Sunday  to  Sunday,  is  but  the  savor  of  death  ! 
If  God  has  made  a  difference  in  any  of  us,  let  us  not 
forget  to  whom  we  are  indebted. 

Brethren  !  you  are  my  witnesses.  I  take  you  to  re- 
cord, that  you  have  had  the  whole  counsel  of  God  de- 
clared unto  you  ;  that  all  cmious  and  metaphysical  in- 
quiries, all  critical  and  conjectmal  points,  have  been 


280 


REMAINS  OF  MR  CECIL. 


carefully  avoided  for  your  sake.  I  have  attempted  to 
clear  my  ministry  of  all  disputable  subjects^  in  order  to 
set  before  you  tlie  plain  fact  of  the  death  and  resurrec- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  salvation  through  him. 

But  consider  !  YOU  also  must  give  an  account  !  I 
must  give  an  account  whether  I  plainly  and  simply  de- 
clared the  truth,  as  one  wlio  felt  its  importance,  and 
was  iu  earnest.  You  must  give  an  account,  whether 
you  have  gone  away  from  this  place,  as  if  you  had 
heard  nothing  to  the  purpose,  and  immediately  dissipat- 
ed your  thoughts  with  some  trifling  subject — some  mere 
secular  concern  ; — or,  whether  what  you  heard  brought 
you  to  your  knees  before  God,  beseeching  him  to  seal 
and  impress  his  truth  upon  your  hearts. 

Oh  consider  the  satisfaction  you  will  find,  in  really 
embracing  all  the  counsel  of  God.  Consider  how 
soon  the  time  will  come,  in  whicli  it  must  be  your  ONLY 
SATISFACTION,  that  you  have  embraced  it  !  Let  it  be 
youi- prayer,  as  you  go  hence — "O  God,  give  me  grace 
to  repent  with  that  repentance  which  is  unto  life ! — 
Make  me  serious  !  Teach  me  what  I  must  do  to  be 
saved  !  Help  me  to  believe  the  record  which  thou  hast 
given  of  thy  Son.  Give  me  faith  to  receive  the  atone- 
ment— to  set  to  my  seal  that  there  is  none  other  name 
under  heaven  given  among  men  whereby  v}e  must  be 
saved,  but  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ." 

Come  to  your  Saviour  witii  humility  as  a  sinner  : 
come  with  gratitude  and  love.  "  For  ye  are  not 
come  unto  the  mount  that  might  be  touched,  and  that 
burned  with  fire,  nor  unto  blackness  and  darkness  and 
tempest  and  the  sound  of  a  trumpet,  and  the  voice  of 
words     when,  "  so  terrible  was  the  sight,  that  Moses 


APPENDIX. 


281 


said,  I  exceedingly  fear  and  quake.  But  ye  are  come 
unto  mount  Sion  ;  and  unto  the  city  of  the  living  God 
— (he  heavenly  Jerusalem  ;  and  to  an  inumerable  com- 
pany of  angels  ;  and  to  the  general  assembly  and 
church  of  the  first-born,  which  are  written  in  heaven  ; 
and  to  God,  the  Judge  of  all ;  and  to  the  spirits  of  just 
men  made  perfect ;  and  to  Jesus  the  Mediator  of  the 
new  covenant ;  and  to  the  blood  of  sprinkling,  that 
speaketh  better  things  than  that  of  Abel.  See,  then, 
that  ye  refuse  not  him  that  speaketh  ! — but,  receiving  a 
kingdom  which  cannot  be  moved,  let  us  hold  fast 
grace,  whereby  we  may  serve  God  acceptably,  with 
reverence  and  godly  fear."    Heb.  xii.  18 — 28. 


LINES 


ON 

THE  DEATH  OF  A  CHILD  AT 

DAY-BREAK 

BY  THE  REV.  MR.  CECIL 

"  Let  me  go,  for  the  day  ircafee^A."'— Genesis,  xxxii.  36 
Cease  here  longer  to  detain  me, 

Kindest  motlier,  drowned  in  wo, 
Now  thy  kind  caresses  pain  me ; 
Morn  advances — let  me  go. 

See  yon  orient  streak  appearing ! 

Harbinger  of  endless  day; 
Hark !  a  voice  the  darkness  cheering. 

Calls  my  new-born  soul  away ! 

Lately  launched  a  trembling  stranger, 
On  this  world's  wide  boisterous  flood, 

Pierc'd  with  sorrows,  toss'd  with  danger, 
Gladly  I  return  to  God. 

Now  my  cries  shall  cease  to  grieve  thee, 

Now  my  trembling  heart  find  rest'; 
Kinder  arms  than  thine  receive  me, 

Softer  pillow  than  thy  breast. 

Weep  not  o'er  these  eyes  that  languish. 
Upward  turning  toward  their  home ; 

Raptur'd  they'll  forget  all  anguish. 
While  they  wait  to  see  thee  come. 

There,  my  mother,  pleasures  centre — 

— Weeping,  parting,  care  or  wo 
Ne'er  our  Father's  house  shall  enter— 

— Morn  advances — let  me  go. 


LINES  BY  MR.  CECIL. 

As  through  this  cahn  and  holy  dawn, 
Silent  glides  my  parting  breath, 

To  an  Everlasting  Morning  

Gently  close  my  eyes  in  death. 
Blessings,  endless,  richest  blessings, 

Pour  their  streams  upon  thy  heart ! 
(Though  no  language  yet  possessing) 

Breathes-my  spirit  ere  v/e  part. 
Yet  to  leave  thee  sorrowing  rends  me,— 

Now  again  this  voice  I  hear  ; 
Rise !— may  every  grace  attend  thee. 
Rise,  and  seek  to  meet  me  there ! 


THE  END. 


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ELIJAH  THE  TISHBITE. 

By  F.  W.  Krummachir. 
"Our  author  is  characterized  by  a  glowing  and  imaginative  style,  which  seems  to 
be  the  expression  of  a  heart  warmed  by  piety,  and  susceptible  of  the  teuderest  emo 
tious.  He  displays  a  happy  tact,  in  developing,  in  the  mo*t  pleasing  manner,  the  cir 
eumstances  of  a  scriptural  incident  or  character,  and  of  deriving  from  it  practical 
lessons."— Pre»6yterian. 

MCCRIE  ON  ESTHER. 

Lectures  on  the  Book  of  Esther.  By  the  Eev.  Thomas  McCrie,  D.D., 
author  of  "  Life  of  John  Knox,"  &c. 

A  TREATISE  ON  PRAYER; 
Designed  to  assist  in  the  devout  discharge  of  that  duty.    By  the  Eey 
Edward  Bickersteth. 

MICHAEL  KEMP, 
The  Happy  Farmer's  Lad.    A  Tale  of  Rustic  Life,  illustrative  of  the 
Scnptural  Blessings  and  Temporal  Advantages  of  Early  Biety.  By 
Anne  ^V^>odrooffe.    Second  Edition. 

"  Thoroughly  and  intensely  have  we  read  this  book,  •  because,'  as  Talbot  said  ol 
Boswell's  Life  of  Johnson,  '  we  couldn't  help  iu*  We  were  ^truck  with  the  ingenu 
ous  disposition  and  firm  principles  of  Michael,  and  we  wished  to  see  how  they  w  o^Ic 
bear  hlra  thiough  trying  scenes.  So  much  for  the  intcrebl  which  the  story  excites 
the  other  merits  of  the  book  are  not  inferior." — Baptist  Advocate. 

COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION. 

A  Series  of  Meditations.    By  the  Rev.  James  Buchanan,  one  of  the  Min 
isters  of  ihe  High  Church,'Edinburgh.    From  the  ninth  Edinl).  Ediri..!i 
LIGHTS  «c  SHADOWS  OF  SCOTTISH  LIFE 

By  Professor  Wilson.  18mo. 

MEMOIR  OF  MARY  LUNDIE  DUNCAN 

Second  American  Edition.  18mo. 
PRACTICAL  REFLECTIONS. 

On  the  Second  Advent.    By  the  Eev.  Hush  AVliite,  A.M.  18mo 
6 


R    OARTKR  S  PUBLICATIONS. 


PERSUASIVES  -TO  EARLY  PIETY. 

By  the  Rev.  J.  G.  PiKC. 
DODDRIDGE'S  RISE  AND  PROGRESS. 

Rise  and  Progress  of  Rolitri.m  in  the  Soul.  Illustrated  in  n  Course  of  Se- 
rioua  and  Practical  Addresses,  suited  to  persons  of  every  character  and 
circumstance,  with  a  Devout  Meditation  or  Praver  subjoined  to  each 
chapter.    By  Philip  Doddridge,  D.D. 

THE  COTTAGE  FIRESIDE; 

Or,  the  Parish  Schoolmaster.  By  the  Rev.  Ho.iry  Duncan,  D.D. 
•' This  is  II  reprint  of  a  Scotch  work,  by  a  clergyman  of  high  standing,  who  does 
not  now  for  the  first  time  appear  as  an  author.  The  narrative  is  constructed  with 
great  beauty,  and  is  designed  at  once  to  illustrate  and  remedy  some  of  the  principal 
evils  connected  with  domestic  education.  Tlio  work  may  very  properly  occupy  \he 
attention  both  of  parents  and  children  ;  .Tnd  it  will  be  read  with  plc;^,^ure  by  all  who 
can  relish  the  simple  and  beautiful  in  thought  and  expression." — Argus. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  CONTEMPLATED, 

In  a  Course  of  Lectures  delivered  in  ihe  Argvle  Chapel,  Bath.  Bv  Rev. 
William  Jay.    New  Edition. 

"It  has  all  the  peculiur  marks  of  Jay's  mind  ;  perspicuity  of  iirratijrement,  simpli- 
city and  occasional  elegance  of  diclioti,  decp-tonRd  piety  and  co(tiousnftss  of  senti- 
ment. In  recommending  such  a  book  we  are  conscious  of  doing:  a  service  to  the 
cause  of  piety,  by  promoting  the  spiritual-mindcdncss,  and  contii^tent,  symmetrical 
cinductof  every  Christian  who  prayerfully  peruses  it" — Baptist  Advocate. 

WORKS  OF  REV.  HENRY  SCOUQAU. 

Containing  the  Life  of  God  in  the  Soul,  &c. 

DEW  OF  ISRAEL, 

Kni  the  Lily  of  God  ;  or,  a  Glimpse  of  the  Kin<fdiim  of  Grace.  By  F. 
W.  Krummacher,  D.D.  Second  American,  from  the  second  London 
Edition. 

CHRISTIAN  FRAGMENTS; 

Or,  Remarks  on  the  Nature,  Trecepts,  and  Comforts  of  Religion.  Dy 
John  Burns,  M.D.,  F.R.S.,  Regius  Professor  of  Surgery  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Glasgow,  &c.  &c. 

"The  different  pieces  constitute  so  many  distinct,  though  sometimes  brief,  disquisi- 
tions upon  scriptur.ll  topics,  nnd  oro  designed  to  promote  the  spiritual-mindedness  of 
the  reader.  They  were  written  niuier  the  pressure  of  deep  affliction,  nad  in  view  o. 
an  approaching  judgment.  They  display  sound  thought,  evangelical  sentiment,  cor- 
rect doctrine,  and  an  elevated  tone  of  Christian  feeling." — Advocate. 

CHRISTIAN    FATHER  AT  HOME; 

Or,  a  Manual  of  Parental  Instrnrtion.    By  W.  C.  Brownlee,  D.D. 
A  GLIMPSE  INTO 
THE  WORLD  TO  COME, 
In  a  Waking  Dream.    By  the  late  George  B.  Phillips.    With  Extracts, 
illustrative  of  his  Spiritual  Progress ;  and  a  Brief  Memoir,  by  Mrs. 
Duncan,  author  of  "  Memoir  of  Mrs.  Mary  Lundie  Duncan,"  &c. 
"Thii  is  altogether  an  extraordinary  production.   The  small  portion  of  it  which 
fives  it  its  title,  is  a  strain  of  fervent  pious  imaginings,  based  however  upon  the  ora- 
cles of  God.   One  cannot  easily  read  it  without  gaining  a  more  deep  and  solid  im 
pression  of  the  other  world.'' 
J 


R.  CARTER'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


INFANT  PIETY. 

A  Book  for  LilUe  Children.  By  Baptist  W.  Noel,  M.A. 
Id  this  volume  one  of  the  finett  bpirits  in  the  established  church  of  England  fivei 
us  a  simple  record  of  the  pious  lives  and  happy  deaths  of  several  little  children  on 
both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.  The  work  is  well  adapted  to  accomplish  the  benevolent 
design  of  its  author,  by  leading  litrlc  children  to  remember  their  Creator."— ./(Itajiy 
Evening  Journal 

A  MEMOIR  OF  JOHN  HUSS. 

Translated  from  the  German. 
"To  many  who  arc  familiar  with  the  life  of  Martin  Luther,  that  of  John  Huss,  who 
preceded  hiin.  ami  prepared  the  German  mind  for  his  more  extended  labours,  is  com- 
paratively little  known.  The  true  character  of  Romanism  is  displayed  in  the  treat- 
ment of  each,  but  some  of  the  darkest  shades  arc  seen  in  the  case  of  Huss." — Baptist 
Advocate. 

HELEN   OF  THE  GLEN. 

A  Tale  of  the  Scottish  Covenanters.    By  Robert  PoUok,  A.M. 

THE  PERSECUTED  FAMILY. 

By  Pollok. 
RALPH  GEMMELL. 

By  Pollok. 
JESSY  ALLAN, 

The  Lame  Girl.    By  Grace  Kennedy,  author  o£  "  Anna  Ross,"  &c. 
"It  is  an  affecting  tale,  and  strikinely  illustrates  the  power  of  religion,  and  ha  full 
adequacy  to  human  wants  in  every  emergency." — Christian  Mirror. 

SINNER'S  FRIEND. 

From  the  eighty-seventh  London  Edition,  completing  upwards  of  half  a 

This  U^tte  Jfork  has  been  translated  into  sixteen*  different  langvoffes. 

"It  is  designed  by  its  direct  appeals,  to  arrest  the  attention  of  the  most  carelesa 
reader,  and  to  pour  into  his  ear  some  word  of  truth  before  be  can  become  fatigued 
with  reading."— PrcstylcriiiJi. 

"It  is  fitted  to  be  an  admirable  auxiliary  to  ministers  in  the  discharge  of  their 
duty." — Albany  Daily  Advertiser. 

DECAPOLIS; 

Or,  the  Individual  Obligations  of  Christians  to  save  Souls  from  Death.  An 
Essay.  By  David  Evcrard  Ford.  Fifth  American,  from  the  sixth 
London  Edition. 

"This  book  is  an  exhortation  to  Christians,  and  Christian  ministers,  to  exercise 
greater  faithfulness  in  saving  souls  from  eternal  death.  We  have  read  it  with  much 
pleasure,  and  we  hope  with  sonte  profit.  Tlie  book  is  most  beautifully  got  up  ;  and 
we  could  wish  that  it  might  be  read  and  pondered  by  every  one  who  indulges  a  hopo 
that  he  is  a  Christian." — JV.  Y.  Evangelist. 

SHORTER  CAXECHISM. 

Anecdotes  Illustrative  of  the  Shorter  Catechism.  By  John  Whitccross. 
New  Edition. 

"This  will  relieve  the  catechism  of  a  difficulty  which  many  have  f»It  in  respect  to  it 
— ^that  it  is  too  abstract  to  be  comprehended  by  the  mind  of  a  child  ;  here  every  truth 
is  seen  in  its  practical  relations,  aud  becomes  associated  in  the  mind  with  some  inter- 
•stin;;  fact  which  is  fitted  at  onco  to  make  it  plain  to  tlie  understanding,  to  lodge  it  in 
the  memory,  and  to  impress  it  upon  the  lieart," — Daily  Advertiser, 


R.  CARTKH'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


MEMOIR  OF  JOHN  D.  LOCKWOOD. 

Being  Reminiscences  of  a  Son  by  his  Father. 
"A  gifted  mind  aud  cultivated  powers,  hallowed  and  controlled  by  a  sweet  and 
trustful  pioty ;  tlie  simplicity  orcUildhood  mingled  with  the  seriousness  and  discre- 
tion of  mature  age,— we  are  sure  no  one  could  watch  his  brief  career,  terminating  in 
a  death,  though  sudden,  not  unprepared  for,  witliout  deep  interest.  We  have  read 
it  with  unmingled  pleasure  and  profit  " — N,  Y.  Evangelist. 

PERFECT  PEACE. 

Letters  Memorial  of  Jolm  Warren  Howell,  Esq,,  of  Bath,  M.  R.  C.  S. 
By  the  Rev.  David  Pilcairn.    With  an  Introduction  by  tlie  Rev.  John 
Stevenson,  author  of  "  Clirist  on  the  Cross,"  "  The  Lord  our  Sliepherd 
&c. 

PROFESSION  IS  NOX  PRINCIPLE; 

Or  the  Name  of  Christian  is  not  Christianity.  By  Grace  Kennedy,  authoi 
of  "  Jessy  Allan,"  "  Anna  Ross,"  &c. 

GOSPEU  PROMISES. 

Being  a  Short  View  of  the  Great  and  Precious  Promises  of  the  Gospel. 
By  the  Rev.  Joseph  AUeine,  author  of  "  An  Alarm  to  the  Unconvert- 
ed," &c. 

UIFE  IN  EARNEST. 

Six  Lectures  on  Cliristian  Activity  and  Ardour.  By  the  Rev.  Jame 
Hamilton,  author  of  "  Harp  on  the  Willows,"  &c. 

MY  GRANDMAMMA  GILBERT. 

By  Old  Hum|>hrey. 

MY  GRANDFATHER  GREGORY. 

By  Old  Humphrvey. 

MEMOIR  OF  HANNAH  SINCLAIR. 

By  the  late  Rev.  Legh  Richmond.    From  the  nineteenth  London  Edition. 

TRUE  HAPPINESS; 
Or,  the  Excellence  and  Power  of  Early  Religion,    By  J.  G.  Pike,  author 
of  "  Persuasives  to  Early  Piety,"  &c.    Second  Edition. 

CHARLIE  SEYMOUR; 

Or.  the  Good  Aunt  and  the  Bad  Aunt.  By  iVliss  Catharine  Sinclair,  au- 
thor of  "  Modern  Accompii>hments,"  &c.    Third  Edition. 

LIVE  WHILE  YOU  LIVE. 

By  the  Rev.  Thomas  Griffith,  A.M.,  Minister  of  Ram's  Episcopal  Church, 
Homerton. 

CROOK  IN  THE. LOT; 

Or,  a  Display  of  the  Sovereignty  and  Wisdom  of  God  in  the  Afflictions  of 
Men,  and  the  Christian's  Deportment  under  them.  By  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Boston. 

A  TRIBUTE  OF  PARENTAL  AFFECTION 

To  the  Memory  of  my  beloved  and  only  Daughter,  Hannah  Jerram,  with 
a  Short  Account  of  the  last  Illness  and  Death  of  her  elder  Brother, 
Charies  Stranger  Jerram.  By  the  Rev.  Charles  Jerram,  A.  M. 
Vicar  of  Cobham,  Surrey.    From  the  fifth  London  Edition. 


K.CARTER  S  PUBLICATIONS. 


THE  LORD'S  SUPPER. 

Bickersteth's  Treatise  on  tlie  Lord's  Supper.  With  an  Introduction, 
Notes,  and  an  Essay.    By  G.  T.  Bedell,  D.D.    Fifth  Edition. 

COMMUNICANT'S  COMPANION. 

By  the  Eev.  Matthew  Henry.  Wiih  an  Introductory  Essay,  by  the  Her. 
John  Brown  of  Edinburgh. 

BAXTER'S  CAUL. 

Now  or  Never,  &c.    With  an  Introductory  Essay,  by  Dr.  Chalmen. 
RELIGION  AND  ETERNAL  LIFE; 

Or,  Irreligion  and  Eternal  Death.    By  J.  G.  Pike. 
THE  FARMER'S  DAUGHTER. 
A  Tale.     By  Mrs.  Cameron. 
LIFE  OF  REV.  JOHN  NEWTON. 

Written  by  himself,  and  continued  to  his  Death.   By  the  Rev.  Rich.  Cecil. 
THE  HARP  ON  THE  WILLOWS. 

Remembering  Zion,  Farewell  to  E^pt,  The  Church  in  the  House,  The 
Dew  of  Hermon,  and  the  Destination  of  the  Jews.  By  the  Rev  Ja*. 
Hamilton,  of  London.    From  tlie  forty-fifth  London  Edition 

SABBATH  MUSINGS. 

By  Caroline  Fry. 
HERVEY'S  MEDITATIONS 

AND  CO;<TEMPLATIONS. 
New  Edition. 

THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  REFORMATION 

IN  EUROPE. 
Willi  a  Chronology. 
MY  SCHOOL-BOY  DAYS. 

SORROWING,  YET  REJOICING. 

Or  a  Narrative  of  Successive  Bei-eavemenLs  in  a  Clergyman's  Family. 
DIVINE  ORIGIN    OF  CHRISTIANITY. 
By  J.G.  PiUe.  author  of  "  True  Happiness."  &c.,  &c. 
A  WORLD   WITHOUT  SOULS. 
By  J.  W.  Cunningham,  A.M.,  Vicar  of  Harrow. 
THE  WORLD'S  RELIGION. 
As  contrasted  with  genuine  Christianity,  by  Lady  Colquhoun. 
ADVICE  TO  A  YOUNG  CHRISTIAN, 
On  the  inportance  of  aiming  at  an  elevated  standard  of  piety.    By  a  Village 
Pastor,  witli  an  Introduction  by  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander,  of  Princeton,  N.  J 

CHRISTIAN  EXPERIENCE. 

By  the  Author  of  "  Christian  Retirement." 

10 


R.  CARTER'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


WORKS  BY  THE  REV.  JOHN  A.  CLARK,  D.D. 

Late  Rector  of  St.  Andrew's  Church,  Philadtlpkia. 

His  works  are  all  characterized  hy  guod  thoughts  expressed  in  a  graceful  and  ap- 
propriate manner,  by  preat  seriousness  and  uuction,  and  an  earnest  desire  to  promote 
th«  spiritual  interests  of  his  fellow-men."— Daify  Advertiser. 

A  WALK  ABOUX  ZION. 

Revised  and  Enlarged.    Fifth  Edition.     12mo.    Two  steel  Engiavings 

XHE  PASTOR'S  XESXIMONY. 
Revised  and  Corrected.     Fifth  Edition.     12nio.    Two  steel  Engravings 
XHE  YOUNG  DISCIPLE; 

Or,  a  Memoir  of  Anzonetta  R.  Peters.    Fourth  Edition.  12mo. 
GATHERED  FRAGMENXS. 

Fourth  Edition.     12mo.    Two  steel  Ens^'avings. 
Containing.— The  M'Ellea  Family.— The  Paralytic— The  Withered  Branch  Re- 
vived.— The  Baptism.— Little  Ann. — The  Meeting  of  the  Travellers.— Mary  May- 
wood.— A  Family  in  Eternity.— One  whoso  Record  is  on  Higli,  (fee.  Sec. 

GLEANINGS  BY  THE  WAY. 

Or,  Travels  in  the  Country.     1  vol.  12mo. 
AWAKE,  THOU  SLEEPER! 

A  Series  of  Awnkening  Discourses.  12mo. 
"Few  American  clergymen  have  contributed  more  hy  their  efforts  from  the  pulpit 
and  through  the  press,  to  promote  the  cause  of  evangeliciil  truth  and  piety,  than  the  la- 
mented author  of  this  volume.  Happily,  thouijh  deatJ,  he  yet  speaks  in  a  tone  of  im- 
pressive and  earnest  adnmuition  ;  and  the  present  vulunie  particularly,  is  a  witnesr 
to  the  f  delity  and  zeal  with  which  he  discharged  his  ministerial  duties.  The  subjects 
of  whicn  it  treats  are  of  the  deepest  moment;  and  the  manner  in  which  he  treats 
tfaera  is  worthy  of  the  tenderuess  and  fidelity  of  an  ambassador  of  Christ.  The  work 
is  admirably  adapted  to  promote  a  revival  of  religion." 

COMPLEXE  WORKS  OF  BISHOP  BUXLER. 

Containing  Analogy  of  Natural  and  Revealed  Religion,  Dissertations,  Ser- 
mons, Correspondence  with  Dr.  Clarke,  &c.  &c.  To  which  is  prefixed 
an  Account  of  the  Character  and  Writings  of  the  Author.  By  Dr.  Ha- 
lifiix,  Bishop  of  Gloucester.  1  vol.  8vo.  Splendid  Edition,  on  pica 
type  and  fine  paper. 

BUXLER'S  ANALOGY.    Large  type.  8vo. 

BUXLER'S  SERMONS.  8vo. 

BAXXER'S  SAINXS'  RESX.    Large  type. 

DICK  ON  ACXS. 

Lectures  on  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles.    By  the  late  John  Dick,  D.D., 
Professor  of  Theology  of  the  United  Secession  Church,  Glasgow,  authoi 
of  "  Lectures  on  Theology,"  iStc.  From  second  Glasgow  Edition.  Svo. 
"The  style  of  the  author  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  a  work  of  this  description.  It 
is  uncommonly  perspicuous,  terse,  nervous  and  culm.    His  ideas  are  the  production 
of  a  highly-cultivated  mind,  originally  endowed  witli  strong  common  sense.  In 
many  respects  he  has  the  characteristics  of  Andrew  Fuller,  with  more  of  the  polish  of 
the  school."— Baplial  Advocate. 

MEMOIR  OF  MRS.    ISABELLA  GRAHAM- 

u 


R.  CARTKR'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


JAY'S  MORNING  EXERCISES 

For  the  Closet,  for  Every  Day  in  the  Year.    New  Edition.  l'2ino. 
JAY'S  EVENING  EXERCISES 
For  the  Closet,  for  Every  Day  in  the  Year.    New  Edition.    12mo.  Uni- 
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DAVID'S  PSAUMS.    48mo.  gilt. 

Do.  do.  With  Brown's  Notes.  18mo. 

THE    INQUIRER  DIRECTED 

To  an  Experimental  and  Practical  View  of  the  Work  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
By  Eev.  Octavius  Winslow.    1  vol.  12mo. 

CHRISX  OUR  LAW. 

By  Miss  Caroline  Fry.  Author  of  "  The  Listener,"  "  Christ  our  Exam- 
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LIFE,  WALK  AND  TRIUMPH  OF  FAITH. 

By  the  Rev.  W.  Romuine,  A.M.  12mo.  New  Edition.  Muslin 
KEY  TO  THE  SHORTER  CATECHISM, 

Containing  Catechetical  Exercises,  a  Paraphrase,  and  a  new  Series  of 
Proofs  on  each  Question.    New  Edition.  18mo. 

SORROWING  YET  REJOICING.    32mo.  gilt  edge. 
CONTEST  AND  ARMOUR. 

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a  2talc  of  tf)e  Kimcs. 

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